Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Bad, Bad Blogger

I’ve lost it!

My motivation, my zest, my get-up-and-go – everything . . . got up and went!!!  

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I think it was the municipal – stupid- convention . . . it just sucks the enthusiasm out of life and then there’s nothing.

No incentive, no desire, no wanna-get-it-dones – just nothing.

Sure I’ve started a few things . . .

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worked on a couple of old things that still need to be finished before the 24th.

Plan on starting something new again tomorrow . . . just to try and rejuvenate some enthusiasm – maybe.

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I’ve been to a Saturday quilting day – a couple of weeks ago . . . love what Karen has been working on.

Makes me almost want to go and make some HST – almost.

Here’s hoping for a great weekend – I hope you get to do everything that you were wishing for.

I WILL be back on Monday with a giveaway that ties in with some baking that I did a while back.

Stay tuned . . .

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

A Week Late and a Dollar Short . . .

. . . although maybe the Golden Boy could help me out with the dollar part (he's not really gold I'm told - darn!).


Last Tuesday we headed into Winnipeg for a "do" at the Manitoba Legislative Buildings.  My hubby was receiving a plaque for long-term service with the Manitoba Government and we were invited in for a tour, munchies and the presentation.  I've lived in Manitoba for a good number of years (I'm not telling!) and this is the first time I've ever been to the Legislative Buildings.  A lot of schools used to do school trips but I never hit it lucky there.  Actually going now was probably more interesting than going as a youngster with a whole gang of people the same age.  We appreciate things more when we're just that tad bit older :)


We got there a little early just to make sure we got a parking spot close by and had some time to wander around the grounds for a while.  What a gorgeous day it was - November 9th and we even saw a few dandelions hanging around - hardy little beggars, aren't they!


I love these polar bear!.  The artistic license that each maker used is remarkable - I wish had got there earlier so that I could have had a closer look at each one.


This is the River Walk . . . but I don't think anyone better try walking down there right now.  Manitoba rivers, streams and creeks are seeing their highest levels in any one's recent memory for this time of year.  Once this all freezes and it snows on top of it - what will the Spring bring - lots of forecasted flooding.


I took a few photos inside the Legislative Buildings, but I think this one was the best - I love the statues and the beautiful marble and the architecture is amazing.  Always amazes me with the detail in these older buildings . . . we have all the conveniences of modern tools and equipment and yet none of the new buildings I have seen recently can measure up to the scale of these amazing structures.  The good old, quick and easy approach is the way we do it today . . . I suppose that goes for quilting also!


Lovely snowfall on Thursday, plus a ton of frost yesterday morning . . . temperatures are certainly changing.  Calling for snow possibly for today - Winter is here.


And . . . I did some digging in my vintage sewing supplies the other day . . . not to be revealed until December 6th I'm told . . .


Did some more sewing on my circle quilt and I can certainly see it done in a dozen other color ways different than this one.  Not sure where this one is going to go . . .


I lapsed in my last post by not mentioning where the pattern came from - this is an excellent book for all kinds of circular quilts.  I hope to try another one at some point and will certainly keep this book in my stash.


Oh, I got bored on the weekend.  Actually inspired was more like it.  What do you think of this one?  It's not an original, but one that I had seen elsewhere and thought it would be pleasing to the eye.  A Christmas gift for someone maybe?

Have a great week!

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Weekend Sewing . . .

One of the groups that I belong to got together on Saturday to take a workshop from Shirley from Shirley's Sewing Room.  Shirley made the trek to Brandon to teach the twelve of us this wonderful circular quilt. 


There was a homework sheet that we all received ahead of time so that we would have all of our strips cut and sewn together in the proper order.  Thank goodness we did that because that was probably the most time consuming part - although with just doing a few every morning and evening seemed to go pretty quick for me.  I couldn't imagine doing that for a whole or part of a day - it would get pretty tedious!


I can't remember who's very organized pile of fabric this was but it shows that some organization skills are certainly a good thing for getting this quilt put together properly.


Here is part of mine laid out and you can see that the swirl is starting to form.  Still not too keen on my color selections, but one thing I've learned about quilting is to never give up - keep going until the quilting is done and it just may turn into something spectacular.  The original plan for these colors was to make a tree skirt, but I'm a little concerned that the pink in there might be throwing things off.  We'll see.


Oh, by the way, this pattern actually creates the cuttings for a second quilt.  Not only did I create one more UFO for my sewing room, I've created two!!!  There is a whole other pile of sewn strips sitting off to the side that will be used for another smaller quilt or tree skirt . . . I better get used to the colors soon.


The Peace by Piece group that I belong to has started another monthly block group - each member will take turns every month to bring the directions for one log cabin variation block and by June or maybe it's next December (I don't keep track of these things!), we'll have enough blocks to make a quilt.  These are the two so far and I think they are coming along quite nice - I'm using a fabric line from Kansas Troubles and it's looking kinda cozy so far.  I also want to intersperse the log cabin blocks with a few Sunbonnet Sue/Sam blocks in the same prints - at least that is the plan so far.  These little blocks work up very quickly and are a nice break from some of the other sewing that is going on right now.
 

 We decided that it was time to get started on some Christmas decorating outdoors and purchased two little trees that came in these planters.  Unfortunately the planters were more orange than red and of course we have a red front door.


So after a few coats of paint with the door color I am reasonably satisfied that these are not orange anymore but have a red/orange glow.  I'm hoping they will look good in the snow once it arrives . . . later this week???

Have a great week everyone.