Uncategorized – Page 9 – Wendy’s Quilting and Life

Decisions and Time

March 27, 2010 wendysquilting

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?

March 14, 2010 wendysquilting

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

March 7, 2010March 23, 2011 wendysquilting

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

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Labour Day

September 12, 2009 wendysquilting

Life is so hectic at times its hard to just relax and not feel stressed about the things that I should be doing. I know that for my personal well being I need to allow myself down time but still there are always so many things calling me. My day job takes a huge chunk of my life and then I have quilts at home waiting to be finished up so they can return to their owners. Then of course there are the quilts that I want to make or that are in the process of being made. This house is always needing attention. Most importantly I want time with my loved ones! It seems like yesterday there were 4 little girls living with me, this house at times felt very overcrowded, it wasn’t really just abit overflowing at times, esp when they all had friends over. I remember how I used to wish for even just a snippet of peace and quiet, these days that’s more the norm than not when I’m at home except for the voice in my mind that reminds me of all the things that need to be done.
and then there is our short summer that I try not to miss any of, one thing that makes me feel like a little kid are the fridays when I know that after work Erik and I are getting into the motor home and heading out for the weekend. It usually hits me after lunch…..the excitement!
Labour Day we decided to head to one of our favorite spots that we always visit each summer, last weekends weather was incredible! I was so excited to camp at our favorite spot…..but then when we got out there…..other people had the same idea!!! Turns out there are other campsites that we hadn’t discovered yet and now we have some new ones to visit. Life does have a way of working out.

our morning view

I’m ready to head out for the day!!

The walleye weren’t biting but we (Erik) did manage to catch a couple. We did catch a lot of perch and they were very yummy!
We discovered this next camp site from the lake so went to shore to explore and decided that we will probably camp here another time. (Erik just had to climb up this rock for a picture)

This lake and most others we visit are on whats called Crown Land, meaning it belongs to the Government anyone can camp on it. I love the feeling of being in the wilderness and having space. No close by neighbors unless its by our choosing.

This brings me back to what I was trying to say at the begining of this post..I think that one of the reasons that I get so excited about heading out camping and spending the weekend fishing, is that its one of the few times in life when that voice in my head telling me I need to get busy is actually quiet and I let myself guiltlessly relax.
So guess where I’m heading shortly!!!!
We have Monday and Tuesday off and the weather is looking great too! As much as I love summer, fall has so much to offer too!
Have a great weekend!
and hopefully I’ll have more quilting to show soon.

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Wendy’s Island

September 11, 2009 wendysquilting

This little lap quilt is finished and delivered, what a happy little project to work on. I have a picture of it with it’s new owner but its at work so I’ll have to post it another time, for now though

Its backed with Minkie and quilted using the Daisy Swirl Panto by Jodi Beamish

We try to get out fishing as much as we can, what can I say its a passion of mine and we live amongst such beauty.

I had really hoped to catch my first lake trout but I’ll have to keep trying, thankfully Erik had more luck than I did

I think the highlight of this fishing trip for us was that Erik’s Parents were there

We made a little pit stop on an island. Turns out it was mine..Wendy’s Island 🙂 Erik has heard that a finnish woman in her 40’s likes to spend extended time on this Island. She has a cooking area set up, as well as a sleeping area and a potty area as well.