Life – Page 4 – Wendy’s Quilting and Life

Blogroll, Family, Life, Quilting, Spring

Busy Week

May 23, 2009November 30, 2019 wendysquilting

Time seems to have a way of getting away on me, some days just pass in a blurr between my day job my girls and the house and quilt jobs and trying to fit in a little exercise and of course a little life for myself etc. I’m always striving for balance.
At work I see the young moms juggling the needs of their little ones and having to work with very little sleep and I’m thankful that I get to sleep at night and that the girls are for the most part self sufficient.
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There are days when I look at my daughters and can see that a large part of my goals as a mom have been reached and while that makes me feel so proud it also makes me a little sad too. I’m not sure at what point in my mothering career it was but I decided that it was a job I needed to work my way out of. I’ve tried really hard to never micro manage my children, instead I’ve encouraged them to become who they are meant to become. Instead of making their decisions I’ve tried to teach them how to make their own decisions. That wasn’t always easy because there were times when I felt they were making the wrong ones, sometimes I was right but sometimes I was wrong. Of course I never allowed them to make decisions that would endanger themselves or others not that they ever really wanted to anyways.
Last weekend my youngest told me that she thinks I’m a good mom actually she used the word “chill” (high praise from a 14yr old). She said alot of her friends are very frustrated by their parents. I told her that she really owes a lot of thanks to her older sisters who paved the way for her. A mom learns so much along the journey of raising 4 girls.
Life as a mom has taught me so much, definitely that the phrase this shall soon pass is very true, that just when I figured out how to deal with a stage in my girls life’s that the stage would pass, that worrying is really a waste of energy, Praying is a much more efficient use of time.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the above, life has changed so much in the last few years and there are so much more to come.
These little birds of mine are spreading their wings and leaving my nest, and my heart aches abit. Its so bittersweet, I’m so thankful that I’ve been blessed with 4 girls to raise and call my daughters. When I allow myself to think back in time there are so many memories that flood me with joy and yes some that make me thankful that we’ve survived it. I’ve known these young woman since before they were born, when all they really wanted in life involved me. Now I have to move to the sidelines of their lives and continue to cheer them on. Well I still do have my baby at home with me and she’ll be with me for at least a few more years. Isn’t it amazing though how fast those years fly by…..

Here’s this weeks picture of Mary’s Kittie, I’m sure glad my babies didn’t grow as fast as this little one. He sure is cute, and I’m so proud of how well his mama is caring for him.

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Last weekend was our Long weekend and Saturday morning we were greeted by this in the morning (this is the little patch of rhubarb beside my deck, the previous rhubarb pics were taken at Eriks)

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I finished up a cute little custom quilt and only took a few pictures of it before it left, thankfully I’ll be able to get more pictures soon as it belongs to a friend of mine. It was fun to quilt and I think its one of my favorites that I’ve done for others.

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and what caused all my pondering above about being a mom?

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Congratulations to Sarah and Jeremy on their engagement

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Family, Life, Quilting, Spring

Change

April 28, 2009 wendysquilting

Change, seems to be the theme to life these days. On the quilt front I’ve noticed that my fabric choices have changed, almost everything I’ve done this year has had red in it and I love everything I’ve made this year. Maybe I needed that extra punch that red adds to a quilt.
The pattern I’m using is Gypsy Rose from the book Fat Quarter Five by Heather Mulder Peterson, the Fabric is Picket Fence by Cloe’s Closet that I’ve had for a few years, it was a Moda University Kit that I really didn’t love the pattern so its been patiently waiting. I’m almost finished the 31 blocks, I’m not sure where this quilt will live but so far I really like it.
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I’ve already shown my Hello Betty top, which screams red to me, it makes me think of picnics and fun times with little ones

And I’ve finished my first Schnibble from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co Hot Cross Buns in the Patisserie collection by Fig Tree Quilts

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and the mail came today, I’m planning a couple of quilts for my older girls with this fabric, 2 of whom have their own places and the other will soon have her own home, The pattern I’m using is in Heather Mulder Peterson’s book Livin’ Large, her website shows the quilt in 2 versions one says Faith Hope Love that was the quilt Emily would like and separately Sarah saw Live Laugh Love and that’s the one she loves. Marys will be a surprise. The girls already have quilts but thankfully they love them and are always more than happy to receive more.
Seeing the girls become young women is very exciting but challenging as well. I guess this is the stage of parenting that I have to trust that I’ve done my job well and let them spread their wings to become who they are meant to be. Katie will still be home for a while and it will be a big change for both of us when Sarah really does fly, the house is already quieter and for Katie she’s always had big sisters around, she won’t really be the baby when its just the two of us.

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Another change was announced last week that one of our Local Quilt Shops Patchworks is closing, the owner wants to retire. I attended the last Thimbleberry club meeting Monday which was sad, alot of those ladies really enjoy the smaller group and sharing. Our local guild has a membership of 200 or so. That shop opened when my girls were little and I have so many memories. Patchworks really helped to bring Quilting to Thunder Bay.

One more change, its a big and exciting Happy change too
Spring is coming and with any luck the deer will not help themselves before I see the blooms this year. (the little white curls are shavings of Irish Spring soap which is supposed to help deter the deer as well as the cat if anyone has any more ideas to naturally keep them out I’d love to hear about it)
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Blogroll, Family, Life, Moda U, Quilting

April Showers……Snow Showers that is

April 5, 2009April 5, 2009 wendysquilting

March went out with a Roar and April began after a 50cm snow storm, heavy wet snow. The driving was treacherous and the kids had yet another snow day. I’m really hoping that’s it for the winter weather. The forecast is for temps above 0 for the rest of the week and even for sunshine!!! Maybe spring is going to show up after all it is April!

I’ve been busy this week with a customer quilt that I’m really enjoying its called Rosebud Lane.

The feathers don’t show up really well but I’m so pleased with how they’ve turned out, they are freehand.

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Which left very little time for piecing but I did get all of the blocks done for my Hello Betty quilt as well as the sashing ready.

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There is just something about the depression era fabrics that I’m drawn to, I still have a collection of basket blocks that I made when I really didn’t know what I was doing yet. That is one of my quilting goals this year to finish one of my oldest UFO’s. One thing I’ll have to accept is their imperfection. I have a depression era solid yellow that I’m planning to use as the sashing this quilts been in progress for almost 20 years. Some of the fabrics in these blocks were from the first time I ever ordered quilting fabric…it was a medley from Keepsake Quilting and the beginning of my stash.

And speaking of stash here is another addition to the stash, I have a couple of cakes and jelly rolls but didn’t add them to the picture I’m not sure what I’ll make with it but I’m enjoying the thinking about it stage. I’m at that stage with a few collections right now.

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I started the Bunny Tales BOM,
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I know I’m way behind but I’ve also never done hand applique and I’ve chosen this quilt to learn. I did the first block but I’m not happy with it so I’ll start over, I think I know where I went wrong so hopefully I’ll get it right. I’ve watched several youtubes on technique so with any luck.. I’ll have something to show sooner than later.
I’ve also started another embroidery BOM from Willowberry Designs
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This one is also a late start and I’m almost finished the first block. I’ve started doing handwork on my lunch breaks at work, I can get a fair amount accomplished if I try.

My oldest is officially finished University all except the ceremony. She starts her first career job on the 14th so she’s taken the opportunity to visit Jeremy in Texas this week. When she finished her job placement on Friday she was given an Easter Lily that was still all buds and asked me to take care of it for her 🙂 It’s blooming Sarah!

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birthday, Blogroll, Family, hiking, Life, Quilting, Uncategorized, Winter

Sunday

March 23, 2009March 23, 2009 wendysquilting

I am not very good about labeling quilts but I’m trying to turn over a new leaf so for now on I won’t let a quilt leave me without a label. This one was very simple, I traced the circle portion of on of the BOM’s that I’m working on from Gail Pans site, that I showed in the previous posting to this one. But I really wish I would have had time to embroider it.

I meant to get more quilting done this weekend but between being really tired and having to get my taxes together and plans for today..well I might still get a couple of hours in tonight.

If there are any Canadians reading my blog you will know who Rick Mercier is. He’s a reported for the CBC and travels about and does “reports” pretty funny stuff. Anyways not very long ago he visited Thunder Bay to experience a few “local” things. Thunder Bay has a large Finnish population, so he visited The Hoito which has been one of my favorite places for years. The food is all homemade kinda old style and very yummy in the way only comfort foods can be. So he went there to learn the fine art of making Finnish Pancakes, we make our own here. And then he joined some fellows and went ice climbing which is something that I never ever plan to do myself and then finished that day off with a good old fashioned Sauna. I found the episode on you tube:

The weather was a bit chilly today with the wind but we still made it out for our hike, its a conservation area not far from Eriks and is a 4.5 km loop through the bush, so relaxing and a good workout as its very hilly. I took a few pictures to show that the snow is melting. There is another snow storm in the forcast for up to 10 cm, I ‘m really hoping thats wrong its supposed to be spring!!!

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