Friday Flimsy part II

Since I had some technical problems yesterday with my post, this morning, armed with a strong cup of java, I will try again!

At one point, last night, this picture did upload (in a gigantic size!).

I played a lot with the layouts of these blocks; from rainbow-ish settings

to random

to furrow

to ...

to ...

to ...

Swirled! 

This picture I took late last night on the back deck but it was getting too dark. 

Do you see the swirls? 

This morning, I will press it real good and start to cut some borders for this one. I am thinking of a pieced border with a light neutral inner border. I still have plenty of time to think about this as I have a lot of ironing to do. 

Also have to think about a name because it doesn't want to be known as the "No Name Antique block from Sue Garman's blog". LOL!

Hope you enjoy whatever you are doing. 

Until next time ...  

;^)

Friday Flimsy!!

I rushed home after work so I can sew the few seams left to finish the quilt. And I did. Rushed outside with the flimsy to take some pictures. Too dark. Come back inside, took more pictures. Okay, I got what I want.  Fired up the computer to post .... no internet!! Uhh! Story of my life !! Two hours later, yeah Internet is back. So here it is ....

Flimsy

Okay so now it doesn't want to upload the pictures. 

I give up!! I hate this house. It is cursed by the Virtual Mummy!! Arrghhh! 

You know the worst part about all this ?(beside you having to wait longer before seeing the quilt, that is!)  This is my 100th post and it is not even worthy of the name!

I'll be back soon with some pictures I promise! 

Until next time .... ssssSSSMiLe  ... it is not worth the tears! 

;^}

Design Wall Monday

I got lots of sewing time this weekend. Yeah me!! 

I played around with many different layouts for the vintage block. When they finally behaved and played together nicely, I hurried and sew them up before they changed their minds. I am sewing in section; I find it easier. 

Saturday brought us more snow (like we were about to ran out or something !!) so I made my youngest son new pajamas. Sweet 16 got flannel PJ with sneakers in man size 32 ! 

 

As my leader/ender, I am still working on 9 patch blocks . 

Yep, four more done. 

Tonight, it is my intention to sew a few more blocks together. Like this :

and maybe I will have a flimsy by Friday. Ooooh! Wouldn't that be great?!! 

How about I share some warming news with you.  This morning, it was -22C, wind factor -32C here in Ottawa. Right now it is -18C with wind factor -29C. See, it is warming up.  hehehe!!  ♫♪ It's cuddling season! ♫

I will cuddled up link up to Patchwork Times for this week show and tell. 

Until next time .... 

Enjoy the warmth ... wherever you are!   

;^)

Made it to Saturday!

I love this new job of mine. Too bad it is only temporary :(

but I am sooo glad it is finally the weekend. My head was about to explode with knowledge. hehehe as if!! Actually, knowledge is the lightest baggage you can carry around. No, I don't remember who said that but .... anyway, enough talking!!! SHOW ME the pictures !!!

Last night, I thought it was the last weekend of February, so I hurried and finished all the pink blocks for the RSC2015.  TA-DA!!

 So I am done for this project .... well, for this colour I should say.

The bottom right seems too burgundy or maroon (as you wish) to me but it's in anyway.

 I didn't know I had so many pinks in my stash. Yeah me!!

Now, remember these blocks ?  The no-name blocks!

Today, I am playing on the floor with these blocks as I am trying reeeeaaal hard to finish it this weekend ... finished to the flimsy stage I mean. It's quite a working out I am putting myself through lol but it will be worth it. I know which layout I want. (If only the blocks would listen!! )

One more picture ....

   It is still falling
                                    ever so
                                                        softly!

                                                                               I loooove it. ... 

                                                                                                               Awwhhh! 

 .... okay enough of this! Back to sewing!

I am linking with Angela for the RSC2015  in the pink month fun!

Until next time....

Enjoy!!

;^)

Winner ... and then some.

It is time (yes, I know, you've been waiting) to announce the winner and the winners to my giveaways. 

♫♪♫ YEAH ♪♪♫

(you KNOW I am enjoy this!!) :D

For the Grow Your Blog give away, I would like to say Thank you to Vicki from 2 Bags Full for hosting such a fun hop. I started the journey with 30 followers and finished with 61!! WOW!  But more importantly, I have met some new (to me) talented quilters and artists (of various type of crafts) that I wouldn't have met otherwise so I am very happy about that. In the coming year, I will get to know them and their craft better, and that is sooo interesting as I am always interested in learning new things.

Yes, yes, okay, the winner for the Grow Your Blog hop, my DH picked number 32:   

SuperMomNoCape!!

Congratulations!  You will receive the red fabric shown in the picture above. 

♪♫ For my Blog Anniversary: ♫♪♪

The winners are:  (I have three FQs to give) so Sweet Son #1 picked number 3:

Dasha

Sweet Son #2 picked number 12:

Ruth

Sweet Son #3 picked number 6

Marly

Congratulations ladies. You will receive the children hands print fabric shown in the picture above. Thank you to all who have participated. It was fun!! :D

Unfortunately it has to come to an end. So, if you will excuse me I have some email to send to the winners and some more hand sewing to do...

Until next time ....

Enjoy!!     ;^)

First time

I've said 2015 will be a year of firsts !!

So in January I participated in the Grow Your Blog hop, my first blog hop! I had my first give away and my blog has celebrated its first year!! All in 2015 and we are only in February! Love it!!

I also wanted to participated in some block swap or challenge, so I've picked

Le Challenge

This month, the theme was "DOTS".  I was not sure what to do but I thought it wouldn't be hard to find something, right? I mean DOTS!!  Every body has dots in their stash, right? I am no exception!  So I kind of set it aside, thinking it is easy and in the bag.  Last week I started a new job and was too tired to sew when I realized the challenge was for TODAY!! And I have DONE NOTHING for the challenge yet!  YIKES!!

So I looked at what I was working on. Oh! Look!  DOTS!! :D 

I made this little project at the end of January, my wonderful little rocking  footstool. 

After, I started to work on the cushion.  It was on my wall for a little bit. It was my leader/ender project while working on the RSC2015 blocks.

So now I have a pretty cushion for my wooden chair. I love it.  I've put a rusty pipping around it because I didn't like all the selvages "connecting" to each other.

I am very happy with my new little chair and footstool.  Now, all I need to do is paint the chair. I am looking for milk paint as I fell in love with the look it gives furniture. All I have found so far is recipes to make some but I really don't have time to look all over town for the ingredients. So, the chair will stay like this for a little while.

Another thing I am making with dots is Butterflies. See dots?

They are Fabric Origami Butterflies. I ♥♥♥ these.  They start with two rectangle sewn with right sides together then flipped inside out. Sew by hand the opening shut and press.

Then comes the folding, origami style . And voila! I hold it down with pins while I try both sides to see which is prettier.

Scissors and thimble to show the size of this little butterfly. 

Since this picture, this one was finished with the yellow on the inside and the red outside as in the first picture. I like it best. So, two done and two more to go because I want to give one to each winner of my giveaways.

I am linking with Le Challenge and with Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy as these little creatures have their folds tacked down by hand.  I also sew a pin at the back so the recipient can wear her butterfly on a purse, tote, coat lapel, hat, anywhere!  Did I say I ♥ these!!

Next is the winners announcement post. (I AM trying to hurry lol.)
See you in a bit.

;^)

Design Monday Wall

N.B. The give away in this post is now closed. 

Thanks to all that have participated. 

No! Wait! That's not right.

Wall Design Monday.  Noooo,  that's not it either. Almost look like Walt Disney Monday! Oh!  My! Dickens!  I am tired!!  I know it's Monday and ... I have something to share ...

I apologize for my ... what's the work I am looking for?  I. am. so. tired.  See, I started a new job today! Lots and lots of new things to learn. It is so different from working with the children. HA!! Tonight I feel my age. Not because my body aches but because of the tiredness... in my head!! My brains went to bed without me lol. I can't concentrate anymore!  Sorry.  It's a temporary change. I will go back to my real job in the Spring. Anyway, I digress.

BUT tonight, I have to post.

Yes, yes, I HAVE to post!

It's my blog's

 First anniversary!!

One year old already!! Of course it means some cake (No, not 80!! I just like the picture. Isn't it the cutest cake?)  and some gifts!! Okay, well, I won't send the cake by mail but I can send some fat quarters!  Since I have three boys, each one will draw one winner for a fat quarter. I was working with  children so I bought some fat quarters with children's hands and feet. Cute, right??

No, no need to drive all the way to Canada, through quarter mile high snowbanks and fight with polar bears to get to my door to enter the giveaway lol. Just leave me a comment please, and tell me if you prefer cake or pies, okay? DH is a pie person and I love cake except if it's a Shoo-Fly pie! YUMMM! The boys are teens/young adults so any food set before them disappears, lol!!

Anyway! I am also having a give away for the Grow Your Blog hop hosted by Vicki.  You can find the original post here.  All you need to do to win the beautiful red fat quarter in the picture, is to leave me a comment on the original post if you haven't done it already.


The winners will be announced on February 15, 2015.  So good luck every one, (yes, my far away and overseas friends, I will mail it anywhere on this planet.) and please make sure I can contact you if you win. Not sure if you are a no-reply commentator, leave your email address with your comment.

Thank you to each and everyone who has been following my humble beginning as a blogger and helped me along with inspirations, suggestions, directions, a different approach, ideas, laughter, kindness and sweet friendship. I appreciate, truly, each and every one of these moments. I have grown so much as a quilter in a year. Boy, this coming year will be a blast!!

♫♪♪ Yeah! ♪♫♪

So until next time ... oh wait a minute!  I was supposed to show you something ...

Oh yeah!

The wall!!! 

 LOOK !

Oh! My! Where did it go??

Oh there it is ... it's on the floor!!  It has outgrown the wall.

I am finishing this one.  I still don't know the name of this block but when I saw this quilt on Sue Garman's blog (scroll almost all the way down), I fell in love with it so I made it. Now for the layout. I thought of assembling the same colours in groups. Do you like? Or maybe a diagonal setting would be better? (picture below)

or just random?  I know the pictures are not very good. It was overcast on Sunday and I couldn't hang it on the clothesline like I usually do. lol.  So it's on the floor in the playroom.

Uwwwhhhh! I don't know which one I prefer. How about you? Do you have a preference ?

I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times and on this note, ♫  I will say ...

Until next time ...  Good luck with the giveaways!


;^)

Gingerbread People

Usually I show you the fun I have in my sewing room.  On Sunday, I did a batch of gingerbread cookies and thought I should show you the fun I have in my kitchen!  :D

The recipe is at the bottom of the post if you're interested. It makes a  very puffy, soft and light brown gingerbread cookie, (not dry and brittle) a little bit like the Gingerbread Man in Shrek except mine never talked!

After "resting" in the refrigerator for two hours, it's time to roll the gingerbread dough.  Let the fun begins!! I start by rolling the dough very thin.

Transfer the shapes onto parchment paper then I push the edges towards the center to make the cookie thicker. Flatten out any big bumps.

The shape in the dough is how the cookie started out. You can see how smaller the cookies on the parchment are after being pushed back. The cookies are wrinkled a little but that's okay.
Then I roll the dough very thick like a quarter inch thick or more!

To bake them like this is to ask for burnt cookies. So after I pulled the shape out of the dough, I roll it again.

(Not easy to do with a camera in one hand lol.)
This process will flatten the cookie and make a larger and taller cookie.

See what I mean? I know they look wavy but it will disappear during the baking. These are my boys favorite one because there's more room to put more icing lol.

I also make "regular" shape gingerbread man but I make them dance, jump, do the slip,wave Hello! all kind of stuff. LOL. I just have plain simple good honest fun !!

After a few minutes on the beach under the big sun (in the oven), we have an entire community of Gingerbread People!! Not two are the same. There's even one or two Mrs. Gingerbread! Did you spotted her yet?

The boys call her the Ghost from PacMan video games lol. I mean just look at her!!  Anyway, that's how we do Gingerbread Cookies at my place. I know we are adults and should not play with our food but ... noooot at my house!! LOL Now, if you will excuse me, there is a cookie decorating party going on and I am invited. Hope I haven't ruined lunch for you.

Until next time ...  (I promise it will be about quilts! )

;^)


Gingerbread Man recipe 

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
2 3/4 cup floor
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt (I only put a dash or two)
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Heat oven at 350F.  Beat butter and brown sugar. Add egg, molasses and water while beating.  Combine the rest of the ingredients and add to the first mixture. Mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours or over night.
Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick a little at a time. Using cookie cutter, remove shapes and set on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Let cool completely before decorating.
Gives about 2 dozens.
Enjoy!!

Design Wall Monday 02/02

For the viewers visiting my blog via Grow Your Blog 2015, you might want to read this post. Be sure to say "Hi" in order to participate in the giveaway. 

I have very little to show for a week of sewing.  When working on a lot of projects at once, it seems like none of them are progressing. After looking at the last picture, I do see the changes. Have a look.

Then 

Now

Yep! 7 more blocks made (which I still don't know the name of) and not one this week. You see, this was to be posted last Monday but with the Grow Your Blog hop, I decided against posting it at that time. So I actually have nothing to show for this past week! I spent a great deal of time answering comments and viewing new to me blogs. It's so much fun! Love it.
Now looking at the picture,  I'm thinking maybe I have enough blocks made. Do I really want 8 blocks wide? What if it was 7 blocks wide X 8?  I would be missing  uh! ... 5 blocks only. Hmmm! I think I like that!


Oh yes! One more thing. I managed to straighten up these Double 9 patch. Grand Total : 7 !!  LOL♥

That's all, folks! I'm linking to Judy at Patchwork Times for even more fun. :D

Hope you have more sewing time than I do.

Until next time ... enjoy!

;^)

Sewing Time

For the viewers visiting my blog via Grow Your Blog 2015, you might want to read this post. Be sure to say "Hi" in order to participate in the giveaway. 




Yes, I did find some time to sew. A little bit every morning before heading off to work. YEAH!!

This is "Take 21" made for my oldest son. It was finished to the flimsy stage last summer. It has been on the quilting frame since then.  Ouch! I wish I could work faster but I do have to "obey" the signs my back sends me otherwise I pay a dear price, if you know what I mean!!  So I hand quilt it just a little bit at a time. I've showed you pictures of it in the frame before but it is hard to tell where I'm at because of the pattern. But this week, you can really see my progress. I have started at the bottom of the quilt and this is where I am now.

Can you see my needle in there? I'm heading towards the misaligned blocks lol. Oh well! There's one in every quilt, I guess. My goal is to finish row 7 today and that's one and half block to go. I won't bind this quilt any time soon but if YOU did bind a quilt in January, you might want to see Julie's blog and participate in the new Binding Blitz and win some prizes.  Or just pop over and check out what others have been up to. Seeing others' finishes is so encouraging! It gives me the spur to finish something too.

Another quilt that is far from being done is Quilt of the Century. I did finished two diamonds this week that I would like to attached to the quilt today. Laundry is no quite finished, have to make spaghetti sauce, some creme of carrot soup, and the boys asked for more Gingerbread Cookies this morning. It is so time-consuming but how can I say no? Beside ginger and molasses are good for the immune system so I'll make a double batch.  Maybe it'll last longer than the last one, hopefully!! Oh yes, and finish answering all those emails I've got through Grow Your Blog blog hop. What a fun adventure this is. As usual, I probably have too much on my to-do list for only one day but I'll make the most of it. For now, I am taking a few minutes to hop over to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching and look at all the wonderful projects slowing being made.

Hope you enjoy what you have to do today too ... whatever that may be!

Until next time ... ;^)