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Where to Start?

This week is a gift to me. It’s like a clean page that I am allowing only myself to write on. I’m using up my comp days from work and I’ve made it really clear to my girls that this week is mine.

I had originally thought I’d use the time for some spring cleaning and painting but then I thought better so…….

 

I’ll be working on my next project; the above picture shows what I’ve done so far.

I will of course work on customer quilts and there are some cleaning projects that I do want to accomplish, it is spring after all and there really is nothing like nice clean windows in the spring and since I don’t live in a house that’s terribly large it isn’t that huge of a project. Also there are some dust bunnies that really have to be caught and released that have been living under the fridge. I just don’t want to get too carried away with spring cleaning and not get some piecing accomplished. Oh and there are a few recipes that I’ve wanted to try … I have 8 days left of my little break!

I played around with my new camera this weekend and also with photo shop. It rained almost the whole weekend but today looks more promising for a walk and some outdoor shots. Not that I’m counting but there are only 67 days til my grandsons approximate time of arrival!!!!

 

 

 

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Decisions and Time

First thing, I made my decision on my new Camera. I decided to go with the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS model. I’ve had a couple of Powershots already that I was really pleased with and this camera has all of the features and more that I was looking for. At this time in my life I don’t really have the time to invest in learning to use the SLR that I’d want to so for now I’ll stick to the point and shoot side of photography. This camera though will give me more options than my previous camera. Hopefully I’ll be very familiar with my new camera before the newest member of our family arrives in June.

Of course I had to try out my new toy last night and took a few shots in my studio of the latest customer quilt that just came off the frame

This was such a pretty quilt to work on this week, I’m going to have a hard time parting with it, I’m sure that my customer will want it back.

 

Now onto time. I really enjoy my day job; for the most part it is very interesting and challenging. I work with some great people and my desk is situated beside one of the sunniest windows in the office. (I thrive on daylight esp. when its sunny). My main complaint about my day job is that it takes up so much of my time. I often joke that I wish I had a clone to send to the office for me, so that I could spend more time doing the other things in life that I enjoy. I suppose that’s the wish that most full time employees have.

Anyways I’ve given myself a little treat. I have taken a 10 ½ day Easter weekend with no major plans other than quilting, some spring cleaning, and lots of Wendy time J which is why I picked up my new camera after work yesterday. I’m really hoping that this break will give me a chance to recharge my personal batteries.

I’m also hoping to have a chance to spend a little more time blogging…I guess time will tell.

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It’s the Middle of March?

I’ve been keeping up with my Designers BOM from fatquartershop.com though I really should start on the finishing kit so I’ll be ready when the blocks are finished. I’m planning to have this quilt finished by the beginning of December so that it will be my official Christmas bed quilt.


I’ve been researching Cameras, I love taking pictures and I have a great little Cannon Power Shot but lately I’ve wanted more that this little camera offers. I don’t want to give up the simplicity of a point and shoot so I’m wavering on moving up to a DSLR Canon Rebel XS. Do I really have the time I’d need to invest to learn how to use it?


Or do I stay with a Point and Shoot and move up from my Powershot A720 IS to Canon PowerShot 12.1MP Digital Camera (SX20IS)

 


At this point I’m leaning towards the Power Shot, it has 12.1 Mega Pixels and 20x zoom compared to my current cameras 8.0 and 6x zoom.

With my little grandson on his way and some other events that are coming up and the fact that I love taking pictures by the thousands I want to be ready. Does anyone reading this have any opinions on these two cameras? I only have 82 days left until his expected arrival.

And moving along to is it really only the middle of March??

Living in NW Ontario spring does not arrive until May and even then its not unheard of freezing weather for the May long weekend. Well this morning we had breakfast out on the deck it was over 14C which is a huge treat for us esp that it happened on a weekend! We even went for a bike ride this afternoon! Afterwards we took a walk through the woods and look what I found!!


 

I’m sure we’ll see more snow before the month is over but this sure gives me hope.

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Perfect Flying Geese

This example will give you 4 perfect 2 ½” x 4 ½” blocks. I alter the size of the original squares based on what size I want the blocks to be. For example for the Madeline quilt I used 5″ for the goose and 3 ½” for the sky giving me 1 ¾ x 3 ½” blocks.

The one thing I don’t know that would really help is the math to figure out the sizes of starting squares for different size blocks. Any numbers people willing to help?

So to begin I started with a 5 ¼” square for the sky and a 7″ square for the geese.

With right sides together and the smaller block centered on the larger block, draw a diagonal line down the centre and sew a smidge smaller than a ¼ seam on each side of the drawn line.

At this point I like to give the unit a quick press. Now cut this unit down the centre line (your drawn line)

Press both units open (I usually press to the dark) These Half square triangle units do look pretty odd

Now place one unit over the other dark to light and light to dark corners matching (other than their funny tails)

Draw a line again down the Centre as shown and sew a smidge smaller than a ¼” seam along both sides of the line and cut the two sections apart on the drawn line

And press the units open giving you these very interesting units.

Now using a ruler with a 45 degree marking, line up the ruler as shown, making sure to allow for the ¼” seam allowance on top, and cut the unit apart, now turn the unit and cut to make it a perfect 2 ½” width.

Next align the ruler so that you have it centred on the block to the size you want in this case 2 ¼” and trim the side and finally trim the other side to make a perfect unit.

Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. This technique works so well for me that I find myself looking for projects using flying geese units just so that I can make some more J

Blogroll, Life, Quilting, Uncategorized

The Pink Purple and Red Quilt

This little quilt was made for my friends 3 yr old daughter Brooklynn. I had made a quilt for her when she was born but her mom wanted to use it as a wall hanging. One night I was on the phone with Brooklynn and she told me that she can’t use her quilt because its a “Only on the wall quilt” so I asked her if she would like me to make her another one. Yes she said, and would you make it Pink, Purple and Red so mommy won’t hang it on the wall. How could I resist.

I had originally planned to add a red block but instead I settled for


After making my Madeline Schnibbles which I haven’t posted the finished picture yet, I wanted to keep making those little star blocks. I added a few more blocks to make the quilt bigger. As you might have noticed I love Carrie Nelson’s patterns “Miss Rosies Quilt Co”. In previous quilts I’ve used the technique shown in her patterns for making the flying geese blocks but they can have a tendency to come out a bit wonky. This winter a friend of mine taught me a new way to make them and they turn out perfectly each time. I’ve told a few people about the technique and promised a tutorial so I’m working on that and will hopefully post it later today.

Blogroll, Christmas, Family, Life, Quilting, Uncategorized

Gypsy Rose

I made this quilt as a Christmas gift for Megan, she is Erik’s youngest daughter. I love making quilts for the girls. It thrills me that they all love their quilts.

My goal is that each of the girls will have a queen size quilt to add to their collections. I have a couple planned for this year. I made Megans quilt using Miss Rosies Quilt co pattern Summer Wind and The Gypsy Rose collection by Joanna Figueroa. Katie really likes the pattern so I’ll make her one, I’ve already bought her fabric and hopefully I’ll get a chance to start hers soon. This next picture is of Megan with her lap quilt that I gave her 2 Christmases ago to go with her bedroom that she’d recently decorated. She is changing rooms soon and her Gypsy Rose quilt will look very at home with her new decor.

I have been quilting for Tara from almost the beginning of my machine quilting business. She has been such an encourager and has also provided me with awesome quilts to work on. This batik quilt was a joy to quilt, I used a rainbows thread that really pulled the together into the border. It was quilted with a pantograph called wildflowers.

These kitties belong to my daughter Emily, they are all living with me while Emily attends University. They couldn’t resist this box and at one point the smaller kitten had opened the lid just enough to slide into the box and keep the lid on…..never a dull moment!

Blogroll, Christmas, Family, Life

Time is Flying!

I remember thinking that I would never be a grown up. I also remember expecting my first daughter thinking that she’d never get here…well she’s here and has been for almost 24 years and not only that but before I know it she’ll be a mother and I’ll be the Grandma! And guess what? Its A BOY! 2010 will be a very exciting year for sure.

On the quilting front I’ve been very busy with customer quilts as well as allowing myself some piecing time. I was able to reach all my goals for Christmas quilts. I still need to take some pictures of the gypsy rose quilt that is now living on its new owners bed 🙂 so I’ll have to add those soon.

My Emily really loved her Faith, Hope and Love quilt

and Shilo Loved her I Believe in Santa Quilt

My Madeline Schnibble is ready for quilting

I am planning to make myself a queen sized quilt with the Rouenneries collection. I’ve decided on the pattern now I just have to wait for the rest of the fabric to arrive and to make the time. Sarah (the soon to be mom) has also requested a baby quilt made with this line.

I’ve been having computer troubles lately but hopefully thats resolved and I’ll be able to share more about my life and times this year.

Blogroll, Christmas, Life, Quilting

Its that time again

I had some time to kill today after work, while my youngest had her hair done so I did a little shopping…and what did I come across? I couldn’t believe that I’d actually forgotten all about them, I enjoyed them so much last year! Christmas really is coming!

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I’ve been really busy with customer quilts esp lately and I’m also working on some personal projects. My Gypsy Rose Summer Wind quilt is coming along, I did have to order some more fabric but so far I’m on track with my plan for this quilt. ( this picture makes me a little seasick but the colour turned out the truest in this picture compared to the others I took)

I added an extra little project last week for a co worker, she needed a baby quilt, and I am in the mood to make baby quilts

I just know I’ll be making up a few more quilts like this, what a great way to use up odds and ends and I always have tons of 4 patches from using them as leaders and enders, something I learnt years ago from Bonnie Hunter.

One last picture that my youngest took the other night…

Blogroll, Family, Life, Quilting, Uncategorized, WEather

Summer Wind and Fall

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Summer Wind (Miss Rosies Quilt Company) is among my top favorite patterns, I made it about 5 years ago using the Seaside Rose collection. When I saw Nicoles version in Wuthering Heights, I knew I needed to make it again. I’m making it using the Gypsy Rose Collection as a Christmas gift. The extra challenge I’ve given myself is that I’m using precuts to make it, so far so good.

I have several quilts in mind that I want to get working on, but with my day job and quilt jobs my time is limited so I’ll see how far I can get.

Fall is truly here, I took these pictures a couple weeks ago (our Thanksgiving weekend) when we tucked the flower beds in for the winter. (I’m hoping that the spruce boughs will discourage the cat and other critters from their activities)

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I’m including this pic just because I like it
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this is what I learnt how to drive today
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The weather has definitely shifted jackets are out and the summer fun is put away for another year.

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the garden is covered up waiting for spring, hopefully next year will give us a better growing season

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One more picture from Thanksgiving weekend, Katie sure loves to drive!
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Blogroll, Life, Quilting, Uncategorized

Procrastination

I’ve been watching for a new collection for a while now, patiently waiting for the fat quarter bundle to become available, which it did this week. Did I order it right away, no instead I just kept it in an online shopping cart. For 3 or 4 days. Today was the day I had decided on everything I was adding to the cart and then guess what? yep they sold out of it and apparently Moda is totally sold out.
I searched for awhile and luck was on my side Fabric.com had some and they still had 20 left last time I checked.
This collection is so beautiful and inspiring. I’m planning to redo my bedroom based on the colours in this collection……lesson learnt (I hope) so which collection? Rouenneries by French General

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