January Finish Done! Yes! 8-)

My Criss-Cross Applesauce Mystery Quilt, led by Myra Harder of Blue Meadow Designs, is all done! Finished! Yahoo! (doesn't look square because of the slight angle that I took the photo at) This is my finish for the "One Project a Month Challenge" put on my May and Kris. Their links are in yesterday's post if you care to check it out. I best contact them to let them know... I am calling this finish my "Easter" table topper. Made in good time for a change! Easter, I'm ready! 8-)

I am committing to finish my Log Cabin wall-quilt for the challenge's month of February. Class for this was taken about 2-3 years ago, so it is high time I finish the applique, stitchery, and all on it, and get it up on one of my walls! Don't you think? 8-)

I will also start my quilting on one of the quilts I sandwiched last week, and perhaps be able to get a second one done in February... Who knows? I have a quilt retreat at the end of this month that may help me along... Unless of course I choose to do some piecing there... Which is more likely. 8-)

For those of you with young children, grandchildren, and daycare children, here is a link to a very cute Valentine craft... Corinna, maybe something for your bunch?

I am thinking I will be taking a break from blogging this weekend due to the new computer coming tonight, and some file cleanup I wish to do on this here pc relic. 8-)

Have a good weekend everyone! 8-)

Easter Table Topper

I finished up my quilting on my table topper, made and attached the binding, and started hand sewing it down before supper...

I have about 12 more inches to go and I'll be done... It can wait till tomorrow as I am tired, fingers cramped, eyes need a rest, and dealing with a few good stabs in my fingers... Hey! It happens right!?! 8-) So tomorrow, I "will" have my January finish done for May Britt's and Kris Meares'

"One Project a Month Challenge". Woohoo! 8-)

Good night....

A cold sunny morning in Winnipeg...

I've just been catching up on a week or so of my post's comments this morning... You are ALL so good to me! I know that I rarely acknowledge your comments with emails, but please know that I appreciate each and every one of your comments, and you! I tend to get very overwhelmed with email, so please do not feel you need to email me after any of my comments... only if I've asked a question maybe... 8-)

With my empty nest, and having to down size my meals, many of you suggested I freeze left over lasagne. I have, but just for my DH to microwave at work. He likes it, but I'm not crazy about frozen noodle leftovers (had a bad experience once years ago). I do like the idea of using loaf pans, and the thought of preparing the lasagne in a few, and then freezing them "before" cooking in the oven! I shall indeed have to try that! Thanks! 8-)

I don't know why, but I thought to share my brunch with you today... Can you taste it? Yummy... Yes I eat while I catch up at the computer. I am sure I am not the only one that does that! lol! I even managed to FINALLY get Ruby to "stay" somewhere away from me while I eat... the little begger... lol! See her in the corner of that second photo? 8-)

I thank you also for your lovely and encouraging comments on my few tutorials. I've enjoyed doing them, but have learned to do them in a few posts instead of one long post... and have now added the "Label" option in my side bar to bring up all the hex tutorial in one shot, and have now learned how to put those posts in proper sequence for it too... 8-)

Also now, I thank you greatly for all your encouraging words to get me going to find my mojo again... ? ... I know we all have our turns with such... Speaking of mojo, it is time to get off the comp, and into the sewing room to make my binding for my January finish!!! 8-)

Till later then...

A quilty evening...

It was a small group at our quilt gathering tonight. Not much show & tell, but we sure had a good look at Kh's (QGB) Blizzard Bunch quilt top!!! She did a wonderful job of it, and the fabrics are gorgeous! Way to go Kh!!! 8-)

After my fur-girls did a good inspection of my little table topper, I was able to take a photo of just it!!! They are always butting into my business!!! lol!

I took this table topper to our gathering tonight to see if they felt I needed to do any more quilting on it, and to see how I was to tackle the invisible thread tails. The consensus was, that it needed no more quilting, bind it, and call it a day. And since I did a few .5 stitches at the beginnings and ends of my quilting, that I could just snip off the tails... All sounds darn good to me!! Thanks ladies! Now to quickly get it done for the Challenge finish for January... 8-)

We were all doing some hand work tonight. No sewing machines!! Wow! Very rare...
Personally, I worked on my hexagons again, stitcheries were being done as was applique... We are all getting excited about our February Quilt Retreat in 1 month, and also working towards our May Retreat. A few of us are even attending a retreat in March, that is a couple of hours west of the city in the middle of no where... Fun stuff! 8-)

This next photo (snapped quickly while sitting at a red light today) is a snow sculpture dedicated to the memory of Debby the polar bear. She was at our city zoo since I was about 7, and she died at the ripe old age of 42 this past November... Awesome snow sculpture... Very tall!!! Too bad I could get a photo of her from the front... 8-)

We saw the sculpture on the way home from my mom's appointment at the doctors today. The doc gave us the news that it is time for Mom to put her name on the waiting list for a knee replacement. Her decision though of course... Waiting list time is 9 to 12 months... I said to her that she would do anything to get out of Christmas! LOL! We usually have Christmas here anyway... 8-)

That be it for today! 8-)

DS's bad day...

First thing Monday morning, on his way to work with a co-worker in tow, DS got rear-ended (but good by the sounds of it). Then, later in the day he locked his keys in the truck, and later still he broke his key in the ignition... Well, that makes 3! The rest of his week should be good, until he goes to Autopac (insurance) for a damage assessment early next week. I hope they don't develop some form of whiplash... 8-(

Found a quick bag pattern/tutorial at Sarah's Prim Treasures. She is graciously sharing it in celebration of her blogoversary. Lucky us!!! Check it out! 8-)

Didn't do any sewing myself yesterday. I was busy with other things and catching up on my blog reading... a bit more to do later today...

I did do some stitching on my hexagons (tutorial) and more quilting Monday on my "Easter" quilt though... before we went computer shopping. For the first time I used that transparent thread. It went pretty good once I sorted out my tension on scraps! Good thing I was slow going because I did get knotted up around things on the machine and spool a couple of times until I moved my spool to my table top spool holder. (Is there a different way to hide the tails of this kind of thread?) I was some stumped for ideas on the remainder of the quilting... still thinking about it. I may bring it to my quilt gathering tonight for some thoughts from the ladies... 8-)

Hopefully I will have some show & tell from the evening later tonight, or tomorrow morning... 8-)

Look at what I saw while sitting here typing! A Squirrel! In January yet, climbing up the tree out front. Aren't squirrels suppose to hibernate till into March? Hey Marlene, your probably a squirrel and acorn pro to know this answer! lol! Squirrely was well on it's way before I could get closer to the window with my camera for a clear shot!!! There it is, high tailing it down the street! 8-)

Taking my ma to the doctors today for them to look at her knee again. Only reason I'm taking her is, if he bends her bad knee a lot, she will not be able to drive home... My mom is still a very independent and able woman. They say she needs a knee replacement, but we are not sure it is a joint problem... The pain is mostly up and down the back of her leg, but it all started behind her knee. Has trouble bending it for the pain that shoots through... I hope we find out a bit more about this...

For those that were interested, all of my hexagon tutorial is up. Four posts of it. I have a link under "labels" in my sidebar to bring up only those posts... 8-)

Well, time to be on my way...
Till later today...

New Computer Coming... 8-)

Second post today... 8-)

Hello to all my wonderful blogging, non-blogging, quilting, non-quilting friends!!! 8-)

I am sooooo very happy and excited! We went out and bought our new computer yesterday!!! Woohoo!!! It should be ready for pick-up by the weekend... 8-)

No more ancient Windows '98!!! Ya you read that right... We were still working from Windows '98... it was working for us, but now everything about our computer is old... 11 years old, and it was time to get "more" with the program!!! Notice I only said "more" with the program? That is because we are having the new comp set up with Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition... I've heard that I would probably be more happy with it, than the most current... 8-)

Yahoo! Yippee!!! Wonderful!!!! 8-)

Fur-Girls at play...on my foot! 8-)

I received another award!
This one is from Finn! Thank you! I enjoy your blog and creativeness also! 8-)

The rules for this award are:
1. The receiver is to copy the award button to his/her blog.
2. Link to who gave you this award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers.
4. Link to each nominees.
5. Leave message at the nominees blog.

Once again I am faced with only choosing a few, when there are so many creative bloggers that I keep in touch with. You all know who you are! I hereby award you all! )

My soon to be Easter table topper...

Just thought I would show you all what I have been working on... Not totally pleased with the stitchings I did on it, but it will do... Off center, yadda, yadda... Though, I think it needs something else, but I'm not sure. I tried adding on a butterfly in one block, but it went wonky, thus I ripped it out...

And then I absent mindedly ripped off my stabilizer from the back... Duh!!! So much for trying out another butterfly... Unless of course I want to use a new piece of stabilizer...

Any thoughts that could help me along? Does it need anything else before I sandwich and quilt it?

PS: Hexagon Tute in post below... 8-)

In the sewing room...Hexagon Tutorial

Temp at 9am was -25C, though it feels like -39C with the wind-chill...
Over night the temp is to be -28C, though it feels like -40C with the wind-chill...
Time for Spring time weather!!!

So I did do some things in the sewing room today! I prepared a small tutorial on how I do my hexagons... I think it was Faith that wanted to know different ways, though this is the only way I have attempted hexagons thus far... 8-)

My way was learned from my very first quilting lessons on hand piecing.

Photo 1.)
My scrap, hex template, and pencil.

Photo 2.)
I trace out my hex on the backside of the fabric.

Photo 3.)
I cut out my hex approximately 1/4" from the drawn lines.

Photo 4.)
You have your hexagon all cut out...








Photo 5.)
Glasses is a must (for me), a couple of small pins, a small needle, and beige or light grey thread. Put 2 hexagons together good sides facing.

I shall continue the tute tomorrow...

Till then...

Hex Tute continued...

Today we sew 2 hexagons together.

My rule of thumb is to have a thread cut the length from your elbow to the tips of you fingers, this helps prevent knotting while sewing. No need to knot the end...

Please read through all instructions before proceeding... Normal practice, I know, but every once in a while we need a reminder... 8-)

Edit: Very important! You only sew on the lines, end to end. You don't sew to the end of your piece of fabric, as you will have problems with pressing out your seams later...

Photo 1.)
Insert your threaded needle into a corner of your marked hexagon, and looking at the back of your second hex make sure the needle comes through on the corner. Snug your fabrics together on the needle.

Photo 2.)
Make sure your needle is on the mark at the back...







Photo 3.)

Do the same with a small pin in the other corner and lock on the line, checking the back to make sure they line up. Then match pin in the center on your marked lines, checking the back once again.

Photo 4.)
Bring your needle up into the line to take your first stitch, looking at the back for accuracy. Pull through leaving about a 3/4" tail.

Photo 5.)
At this point, make two back stitches in you corner making sure everything still lines up with the marked line.

Photo 6 & 7.)
Take 4 to 6 stitches onto the needle. Check the back just to make sure you are not majorly off. If need to adjust, adjust, but if all looks good...

Photo 8.)
... pull needle through. Make one back stitch and...

Photo 9.)
...load up another 4 to 6 stitches, check back marked line, make any necessary adjustments, and pull through. One back stitch, and continue in this manner to the end corner.

Photo 10.)
At the end you will do 2 back stitches like you did at the beginning.

I usually do my single back stitches about every 3/4 to 1 inch...

Photo 11.)
I'm showing you the back side...forgot to take a photo of the working stitch side...

Tomorrow we will attach a third hexagon...

I hope my instructions are understandable, and am sorry if some of the photos are a bit fuzzy...