Can't Wait . . .

'til next time,
M.

Mystery Quilt continued . . .

Myra at Blue Meadow Designs posted on Monday some of the sewing steps for the mystery quilt. I started sewing and cutting yesterday morning and finished up last night.

So far I'm not seeing any apple sauce or criss crosses, but I'm sure by next Monday when the next posting goes up, everything will become clearer.

If you haven't been following along, it still isn't too late to join . . . and the little bit of fabric that is used and the easy cutting and sewing make this a really great small project. Can't wait to see what it turns into.

Friday is a big day for me, so I'm starting to get in the spirit of things . . . I love Halloween, although it means another year is added on :(

Have a happy Wednesday . . .

'til next time,

M

Weekend Fun!

First off Myra is back with some sewing instructions for her Mystery Quilt. Anyone that is following along may already have their fabrics sewn together . . . mine will be happening tomorrow morning around 6:45 a.m. . . . I hope!

What do you think? Isn't this the cutest little pillow?

It was so easy and so quick to make - a person could kick out at least five of these in a day . . . ehm? more Christmas ideas?

This is the first time I've worked with wool and I love the dimension that each layer creates. I also love those little creamy centres . . . so bright and cheerful. Now if I can just keep the cat hair off it I'll be very happy.

Then I started working on my next project (yeah, I know, another one!). But, in my defense, it was just impossible to ignore the idea of creating a blue and cream quilt. The blue fabrics were part of the Portobello Market layer cake that I got a while back and the blues were irritating me when they were next to the greens and reds . . . so, I pulled them out and then I liked them.

Trouble is that in my great wisdom I have created the need to make 480 2" half square triangles. Where was my brain when I dreamed this up? This may take awhile . . .

I also prepared three quilt tops for quilting. This involved vacuuming the kitchen floor, laying out the backing and taping it down; smoothing on the backing and spray basting half and then the other half; and repeating for the quilt top. I started with the smallest one of the three and worked up to the big one . . . they all worked great.

My only problem now is that everywhere we walk it sounds sticky and it gets really irritating after awhile. If we don't wear slippers or socks, just bare feet, everything is fine and it doesn't feel sticky . . . just sounds that way. It's supposed to be water soluble and I washed it twice and even hand dried it thinking that would be enough - nope . . . we're still making sticky noises. I guess it will wear off in it's own good time . . .

While I was surfing around I came across Anyone Can Quilt blog and had fun looking around - go take a peek. There are some great Fall quilts and photos to see and the neatest little dog.

Have fun . . .

'til next time,

M.

I'm Ready . . .

and waiting . . .

My fabric is all cut and ready to go. I've been following along with Myra at Blue Meadow Designs mystery quilt instructions . . . but Myra has disappeared! Some of the sewing instructions were to be posted on Monday . . . so I keep checking back to see if they are up . . . so far nothing.

Cori and Myra hosted a quilt retreat this past weekend so I know they are probably just catching their breath for the first part of this week. Hope to get my pieces all sewn together and see what the pattern is - I love a good mystery.

Since Myra is a little behind in posting the instructions, it still isn't too late to pop over to their blog and play along. It doesn't take too long to cut out the pieces and it doesn't use very much fabric - I cut into two fat 1/4's and had some background and border print fabrics that were leftover from other projects - no shopping spree needed!

Happy Fall Quilting . . .

'til next time,

M.

Before, After and During . . .

This was the weekend to do some yard work - YUK!

My least favorite thing to be doing . . . the only thing the day had going for it was that it was absolutely beautiful weather.

This is the before picture . . .

And . . . the after.

The only problem is that by Sunday afternoon it looked like the before picture again. My aching arm, back and blister refuse to redo what was already done . . . at least for this year. Spring will be soon enough to catch up to the stragglers that keep falling and blowing into our yard.

Our property consists of a 100' x 200' foot lot with about 57 mostly oak trees scattered everywhere. We look around the rest of the street and most people have maybe five trees and some don't even have that many. I was doing fine until I ended up in the garden cutting back some of the taller perennials - that's when my back went on me. The aching arm and blister were from the raking though.

Quilting is so much more fun!

Shadow quite enjoyed the day outside . . . little sunshine dozes on the front step with the pumpkins was right up her alley.

Sunday was a great day to putter around and start some Halloween/Fall decorating.

I made this quilt last Halloween, but really too late to enjoy it, so this year it will be up for a few weeks. Looking around I think there is another five Halloween quilts on display . . . love this time of year.

I did get to the sewing room for a while yesterday, but most of the day was spent preparing a large stack of applique shapes. This morning I did start sewing down some of the shapes . . . that feels really good because that means I'm getting nearer to the end of this project. Time to start day-dreaming about the next one . . .

'til next time,

M.

Quilts and Quilting

Now here is an interesting post. LizzyAnne is giving away a quilt . . . a VERY nice quilt. There are already over a 1400 comments, but what the heck, let's all throw our names in there. The contest entries will go until 7pm MST on Friday October 17th.

Here is a link to a really great site called Patsy Thompson Designs for anyone who does machine quilting. Click on the "free downloads" tab and you will find a huge selection of free patterns. Gave me a few ideas about how to quilt a couple of quilts . . . I'll maybe try them out next weekend.

My distributors are just starting to receive the new patterns today . . . it's so exciting to think that these will be available in the stores really soon and debuting in Houston next week. These two projects are "quilty" but you can't snuggle under either. Mostly scraps or fat 1/4's are used to make them and both make excellent gifts for crafty friends. These were lots of fun to create and I'm thinking that there'll be lots of gift giving going on using these two patterns.

It's been a busy week - Thanksgiving on Monday, Elections on Tuesday, Council meeting on Wednesday. Today should be a bit quieter and I'm hoping to finalize a pattern that I've been working on for a while. Tomorrow is dentist, eye glasses, chiropractor and a hair cut day . . . time for a tune up before winter hits.

Saturday was supposed to be a watercolor workshop that I have been looking forward to for quite some time. Received a phone call yesterday that it is now postponed to another unspecified date. My husband is quite happy about this because now I will be able to help rake all the leaves that have fallen - as well as the acorns! He is away next weekend so unless I want to rake them all by myself, I think I best pitch in and help out this Saturday. I could also have gone to a quilt workshop with my Brandon Piece by Piece quilt gals, but the frowns I have been receiving from DH are very intimidating.

Maybe I'll be able to work in some quilting on Saturday evening and all day Sunday . . . I have my fingers crossed.

'til next time,

M.

Ah! Sewing Time . . .

or at least a short bit of sewing time.

Kids came home from Winnipeg on Friday night and we spent Saturday in Brandon doing some shopping and other running around. Sunday was spent with family and a big 'ol turkey, plus a small bit of pumpkin pie. Belated "Happy Thanksgiving" to everyone in Canada.

My sewing was squeezed in during the early morning hours before everyone got up and then little bits of yo yo making and applique while visiting. Surprising what can be accomplished in tiny, little bits of time here and there.

My philosophy is that it's not a good day if you can't create something . . . no matter how small.

'til next time,

M.

Teleconference Success . . .

The teleconference fiasco of last week has finally been resolved with a very well organized session this week.

Professional Quilter hosted a one hour teleclass with Gloria Hansen, author of "Digital Essentials" which is published by Electric Quilt Company. This sounds like a book for me . . . I'm always fussing over image sizes and resolutions and stuff. There was also some discussion on printing on fabric and different ink types, different scanner types and also information on how to protect our images on the internet.

Sounds like this book would be the "go to book" on the book shelf for any computer/quilt questions. I'll be putting this on my Christmas list for sure.

Jo at Vintage Lane Stitches has some wonderful projects that she is working on, including some UFO's. I love her blog layout and background . . . it is so nice! I then found out that it was designed by Annette at That's Graphic and when I stopped by her site I found a link to this really neat website that will inspire anyone who loves playing with colors. Check out ColorBlender and play around with some of the slider bars . . . could find some new color combos for your next quilt.

Annette also has some links on the right hand side of her site for anyone who is looking for that perfect font . . . I don't know about you gals but I love fonts and could spend hours looking for the perfect one. Sad thing is that I always revert back to something normal and easy to read . . . but someday I'll find the perfect one - I just know it!

Wishing everyone a happy weekend . . .

'til next time,

M.

WHAT? . . An Ugly Mug Award?

But . . . Myra! You've never seen my ugly mugs . . . have ya?

Well, I'll just show you . . . this is my ugliest mug.

I received this at a Nursery School Board meeting back when my daughter was three or four - she is now 24! The damn thing just won't break . . . and I use it all year round. I guess it's kinda like a permanent fixture in my sewing room now.

Now this one is not an ugly mug - it was purchased on my trip to the Minneapolis Quilt Market in 2006 and the only way you can get one is to stop at Gruber's and buy one. Gruber's Quilt Shop was one of Quilt Sampler magazine's Top 10 quilt shops and is a wonderful place to shop. Make sure you put it on your list if you're heading towards Minneapolis - their advertisements are in lots of magazines and they are also on the web.

And this is also not an ugly mug - who really needs Starbucks everyday anyway? Caribou Coffee was quite the hike from our hotel room - I believe that was also in Minneapolis - but coffee is coffee and we had to make the trip AND buy a mug of course.

I know that this is not the kind of ugly mug that Myra was talking about. She had received this award from Megan of "The Bitchy Stitcher" blog. Make sure you stop by her blog to check out the origins of this award - I believe it is meant to be an award to "honor any blogger who crafts, sews, quilts - you know, makes stuff - no matter how crappy (or how good). An interesting way to say - I like your blog, like your stuff, and I'm pretty sure you have a good sense of humor."

Thank you Myra for the award . . . I know you have a good sense of humour and your projects are all wonderful. You are also a very prolific blogger . . . 200 posts already! Wow.

So far all of the talented people that I have witnessed that have received this award are not in the least bit ugly, and I know that they, like myself, will take this award in the spirit intended.

Now I believe that I have the enviable pleasure of passing this award on to 3 bloggers that fit into the good humour/good spirit category.

I would like to bestow this award on the following - in no particular order:

Jennifer - I know she has a good sense of humour - she's put up with an award handed out by me before. I love visiting Jennifer's site and I hope you all take a peek and leave a message while you are there.

Nancy - check out her wine bottle covers! Wow, those would make great Christmas gifts - Nancy must have a sense of humour to make these cuties. Nancy's armchair caddy that she made from the Stitcher's Angel swap is gorgeous . . . go have a look at it . . . really nice.

Edna - must have a good and colorful sense of humour - lime is her favorite color! Check out her blog and see some of the UFO's that she's working on for Finn's Challenge . . . New Year's is coming fast.

I received the Portobello Market fabric a while back (and I think my fat 1/4 October shipment should be here any day from the Fat Quarter Shop), so this is the yardage I ordered from the Fabric Depot to use for background and borders for whatever quilt I decide to make with this line of fabric. Actually some of this, including the jelly roll are heading off to my pattern tester so that she can give the newest pattern a trial run - should work out beautifully with this collection of fabric.

My internet has been down for 24 hours so I apologize for being missing in action for a short while . . . I'll try and play catch up for a couple of days . . .

'til next time,

M.

Autumn Wonders!

Oh . . . the colors are fantastic!

Before I started blogging and before I started taking pictures everything just happened around me without me really noticing. Now I stop and look and appreciate more of what is going on around me. If you don't have a blog or don't have a camera run out right now and do both. It is so eye opening and rewarding.

Remember that you do not have to have a blog to comment on a blog. Try it just once and see how easy it is. I know I don't comment on every blog I visit . . . sometimes there just isn't time or I can't think of a darn thing to say . . . but other times I'll leave a comment on just about every blog I go to. It's fun for me and hopefully fun for the person receiving the comment. If you need help, please drop me an email and I'll help you out.

Some of you Brandon gals will remember this little bag that Ramona and I made last year. Now it is finally the season when I can pull it out and make use of it. I think it looks great on my red front door.

Stop by Blue Meadow Designs and check out Myra's Mystery Mondays . . . looks like lots of fun. She will be posting a new installment for a little mystery quilt every Monday and she just started yesterday so you won't be missing out on anything if you pop by right now. Maybe choose some colors like the leaves in the photo above - the Mystery is called "Criss-cross Apple Sauce", so I think some of these Fall colors might work.

This weekend was full of pattern preparation . . . lots and lots of cutting, trimming and stuffing patterns. Last week was a turmoil of getting to the final approval stages for the pattern fronts.

Lots of little details to iron out, but I think ready or not, the package is hitting the mail tonight for the U.S. The Canadian distributor's package will likely be going out next week some time and then once I clean up my little production line and get a bit more organized . . . I'll be ready to announce a giveaway. Just be patient . . .

'til next time,

M.

A 100th Giveaway . . .

Pop by this blog to congratulate her on her 100th posting: http://quiltergoingbananas.blogspot.com/. The giveaway looks very intriquing . . . but you're going to have to hurry over and enter your name - the draw is tomorrow night at 10 p.m. CDT.

Busy weekend working on applique pieces and cleaning.

Hope your weekend is going great.

'til next time,

M.

Update . . .

The teleconferencing system didn't work.

It wasn't me misdialing or any of the other miscellaneous problems that I had thought of. I always assume that it MUST be something I'm doing wrong . . .

So, anyways, the whole thing has now been rescheduled and I'll let you know next week whether it was worth all the hassles.

Have a great weekend!

'til next time,

M.

Frustration . . . With a Capital "F"

Have you ever signed up for a teleconference and then your ID# isn't right? You dial and dial and dial . . . you double check your numbers . . . you dial some more . . . you check your time zone to make sure you are correct in your timing calculations . . . you try dialing some more . . .

High blood pressure kicks in big time and you wonder why you even bothered. ERR***RRR**RR!?!?!**?!

I was signed up for a teleconference (or so I thought) with Gloria Hansen that was being sponsored by Professional QuilterOnline. Discussion was to be about techie thingyies like PPI and DPI and copyrighting digital images and STUFF.

I could have learned so much . . . and now . . . nothing!

I guess if I'm still curious about all that stuff I'll now have to buy the book . . .

Hope I didn't break any copyright image laws by posting the picture of the book cover . . .

'til next time,

M.