RUSH HOUR ~ A final look...

Every day I refill the feeders, and I've taken to spreading some sunflower seeds 

on the ground for the squirrels to forage. 

They are fun to watch prancing through the grass, sometimes digging to hide them, 

though something tells me they will have trouble reaching these ones once the ground freezes 

and the snow comes . . . silly squirrels.

Since I've taken to spreading the seed this way, I've had anywhere between 8 and 10 squirrels at a time. Hence . . .

Around the World Blog Hop

I've been tagged in the Around the World blog hop by Kris loves fabric... Kris has been faithfully working on a labour of love for her son; a beautiful Dr. Who quilt (which is on my perpetually growing "to do" list) and so I've been spending quite a bit of time following her progress and getting to know her along the way.

1. What am I working on?

     Many fun and varied projects. I love to collect patterns and periodically, I even finish them. I love to join in the fun blog hops with Madam Samm of Sew We Quilt. The current one, Rush Hour, has one more day (there have been a lot of wonderful projects using that lovely Studio E "Rush Hour" fabric), and then in October it will be Black Cat Crossing cheered by Wicked Wendy of Why-Know-Kwilt. So of course I am working (secretly of course) towards that one. I love paper piecing and recently completed a test pattern for Juliet at The TartanKiwi . . .

I have my own Dr. Who quilt in the works for my son...as you can see by the date in the photo, I've been working on it for a while now. The Doctors are complete, and I am working on adding the most used quote by each one.

I am having lots of fun learning to quilt, but I really love to dabble in several crafty things . . . knitting (socks, slipper, dishcloths), cross stitch, chicken scratch, embroidery, oh and a newly developed love of paper piecing.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I guess you could say I'm a "wannabe". I love to try new things, and am not adverse to letting it go as a UFO when I decide I've had enough. I'm not drawn to finish just for finishing sake. Can't say I feel I'm really unique; I haven't really decided on a genre . . . I kind of like to jump in the river and let the current take me. Let you know where I end up when I get there LOL

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Just to see if I can. I have a drive to learn . . . a drive to see what new thing I am able to wrap my mind around. And I love being able to do so in the comfort of my own home.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

My process is very slow. Sometimes I swear my brain flows slower than molasses in January. But, when I get on a roll, look out I cannot stop until I am done; or until I just cannot keep my eyes open any more. All else takes a back seat.

I am supposed to tag some others, but was unable to do so. Any reader that would like to take up this dropped baton, please email me for the info! I'd love to add your link below!

1.

2.

3.

Morning light . . .

As I passed through on the way to the kitchen, I was greeted by a light . . .

see how the window sill seems to glow as though a light were shining on it?!

Here is what it was . . .

It was the sunlight filtering through a beautifully coloured maple tree. I had to crane my neck up to see it, and I'm so glad I did.

Just wanted to share my morning moment with you! Have a beautiful day!

Rush Hour

Hello and good morning! Thank you Madam Samm (Sew We Quilt) and Carol (Just Let Me Quilt) for hosting and organizing this thought provoking hop.

Today's participants:

Wednesday, September 24

Stitchin’ By The Lake

Buzzing and Bumbling

Lixie Makes It

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Living With Purpose  ~ you are here

Madly Mid Mod

Coral Canyon Quilting

Rush hour for many people is that time taken to commute to or from work. My commute to work is only 5 minutes away, 7 maybe 8 minutes at most in winter. No more hour or longer commute for this lady.

Rush hour for me is:

~ breakfast time because it lasts a good hour since as everyone gets up at a different time and showers are also taken.

~ is the time you can watch me getting ready for work or another appointment where I'm turning in circles as I try to do far more than I should be just before going out the door . . . or I have to keep back tracking to pick up "that thing I forgot" on the way by (such as a towel before getting in the shower lol)

~ Rush hour is also me changing projects in mid stream :o)

You saw Part 1 of my gingham curtains in the See You in September hop. As I was working on Part 2 for this hop, using the red, white, black colour theme, I used white fabric to begin making the lower half of a pair of cafe curtains . . . and had a lightbulb moment due to the colder than normal weather we have been having, and curbed my original idea for something far better. But I need to develop my own pattern and process, and as luck would have it, I have insufficient white fabric. Won't explain yet, rather will aim for a Part 3.

So here is Part 2 of my curtains . . . I don't handstitch very quickly, but I can say in all confidence that my speed has improved with this project. Another night time picture so you can make out the stitching . . . it doesn't show with the sun behind them.

My project for this hop is a new apron. I've always wanted a full apron like this and it is reversible, so it is just perfect. Using the Butterick Waverly apron pattern (B5263)

A black side for cleaning or cooking, and a white side for baking. I've stained many a top or dress bodice with tomato sauce or various oils.

This is the first time I've used this pattern, and there are some sewing parts that I think I can improve upon for my own ease in making. The first time I sew up a pattern, I usually prefer to follow their instructions so I can understand how to put it together . . . This one has a couple things that just don't make sense to me, so I've kinda tacked the last couple seams together till I can think up something better. In the meantime I will wear it and see if there are any other improvements to be done with it at the same time. Over all, I love this apron and I'm so happy to finally have my own!

Thank you for visting. Please slip on back up to the top of this post to follow the links to see the other ladies I'm sharing my day with.

Goodbye and Hello

Goodbye to 

See You in September 

 It was great fun to "herd" you as someone mentioned. 

A beautiful flock of creative and inspirational ladies you are . . . 

I am so thankful to have shared a wonderful summer with you,

but it sure is great to be back!

And can I just reaffirm that Mdm Samm is an amazing hop mom. Totally behind you, gently guiding you forward!

With the start of the See You in September blog hop, vacation ended, school started up,  many after school or weekend groups have begun again. Life is once again in full swing and with that we say . . .

Hello

Rush Hour

with Carol of Just Let Me Quilt

 

Tuesday, September 23

Just Let Me Quilt

I piece 2-Mary

Marjorie’s Busy Corner

Quilt in a not-Shell

The Slow Quilter

The Blended Blog

Quilting Bias

 

Wednesday, September 24

Stitchin’ By The Lake

Buzzing and Bumbling

Lixie Makes It

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Living With Purpose

Madly Mid Mod

Coral Canyon Quilting

 

Thursday, September 25

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Kwilty Pleasures

Selina Quilts

A Stitch in Time

It Seams To Be Sew

Pig Tales and Quilts

Lakeshore Stiches

Tea Time Creations

 

Friday, September 26

The Quilting Queen Online

Quilting Quietly

Vicky Myers Creations

Grammie Q’s

From This to That

Quilted Delights

Coeur d’Alene

Sew at Home Mummy

 

Monday, September 29

Grandmama’s Stories

Kris Loves Fabric

Jane’s Quilting

Life, Quilts, and Cats, too

Thimblemouse and Spouse

Creatin’ in the sticks

Bquiltin Studio

 

Tuesday, September 30

Lily Patch

MooseStash Quilting

Words & Stitches

Karma Willow Designs

Kwilt Krazy

How arT you?

Sew We Quilt

  

I am sew looking forward to being stuck in a line up with you!

Join us for the fun . . . I'm sure it will be a RUSH (hour) *wink*

Only two days left to

See You in September

 

and here is the remaining line up...

Monday, September 15
I Piece 2-Mary
Till We Quilt Again
Vroomans Quilts
Nini and the Sea
Seams To Be Sew 

My Quilting Journey

Tuesday, September 16
Life, quilts and a cat too
Meadowbrook
Apple Avenue Quilts
Just Keep Swimming
Patchwork Sampler
Sew We Quilt

Give me an R . . .

Give me a B . . .

Give me R.B.D. Gingham!!

Yay for RBD and for Mdm. Samm

Oh, and go ladies go . . . show us your beautiful creations!

Welcome back!

To blog hopping with Madam Samm of Sew We Quilt.  

We missed You! 

We are already one week through the See You in September hop; and it has been a delight to catch up with you after summer break.

It is September 12th already . . . almost half way through the month; but that is okay, for it is my day for show-and-tell!

This summer, my aim was spending time with family, de-cluttering, and continued renovations . . . all I can say is that this is still a work-in-progress *smile*.

Dh and son have been very busy; and I was designated gopher 
(you know . . . "go for this, go for that")  
so there was no shortage of work for me either LOL

I've been working on setting up my sewing studio. It is not nearly as far along as I would have liked, but, I did finally decide on an arrangement for my furniture. It just feels right. Oh, and I got wireless internet access back there again so I can bring my lap top out with me. Now that is downright perfect!

Most of my things have been in storage bins for some time so it is taking me a long while to open them up and organize, but progress is being made!

The living room windows finally got their border trims so I can get around to buying rods and material to sew some curtains . . . my goal is green gingham. The living room also got a new paint job. It is lighter and brighter and hubby is so very happy (guess what that makes me lol). There is still much work to be done, but I'm more than happy with the progress that has already been made!
 

We sold the swimming pool, and I've created a garden/slash fire area for us to enjoy. The old pool deck is in process of being converted . . . but that in itself makes for another post. 

Last year we stacked our wood here . . .   
  

 
and this year, hubby and son built this 

and son, with the help of family friend stacked our 8 cord of wood. 
We have another 4 cord on order . . . this will be green wood to overwinter for next year.

Because we have so many trees with varying sized roots along the roadside of our property, we have many gaps where our cedar hedge refuses to grow. I'm all about privacy, and we live on the beginning of a very busy street. So we put in some fencing (inside the property where there is no height regulation) and I just love it. A few more sections to be put in in one more area, but it is just perfect. Ds did most of the wood staining . . . I don't do stain!

Did I get any sewing done? Of course I got some of that too! My blog header shows a cross-stitch project I started working on as soon as I heard about the RBD gingham campaign. I'm so very glad that we have at least saved the medium-sized gingham line from retirement!

I did some sewing for myself. I had cut fabric to sew a few skirts for myself . . . for shame, that was two years ago . . . and for one reason or another just never got there. 

Well, I completed two skirts, simple prairie skirts with elastic waist band . . . and I did a little work on a pre-purchased scrub top. I am a nurse's aide, and they just don't make uniforms for me. I only wear skirts, and anything above the knee is not a skirt but a long shirt rather (in my humble opinion) so . . . oh and as for the scrub tops, they mostly seem to have this v-neck, which really is not modest (our work requires we bend forward A LOT) so I added a bit of skirt fabric, and added some yo yo flowers to hide the logo of the last place I worked. I've been working night shift where no one really notices what you wear (I prefer black), but I will be shifting to evenings (where I'll be seeing more family members and where the residents are still awake lol). 

Yes, that is a bedpan I'm holding LOL!

The second skirt goes well also with a pre-purchased top that I have not modified (well covered with a tank top underneath but I may change my mind). 

A couple of need to purchase items for my sewing studio have come to mind . . . a full-length mirror, and a sewing mannequin would be very helpful!

A friend of mine is having her first baby, it will be a boy. So I decided to make her a quilt . . .

Straight line quilting with my walking foot...1/2" then 1/4" was thinking of 1/8" lines (matchstick), but thought it would be overmuch for a baby quilt *wink*.

A pieced back, just for the fun of it, and mock binding.

Now of course you are asking yourself . . . but where's the gingham?!

Well, this is gingham curtains . . . Part 1

 And, what about Part 2? Come back and see me for the Rush Hour blog hop.
You've waited this long to see a wee bit of gingham what's another 2 weeks?! LOL   

Thank you 

. . . Madam Samm for this super hop and especially the opportunity to CHEER!

. . . RBD you make fabulous gingham! And we'd be more than happy with all three sized lines of gingham, but, one is better than none!

. . . also to each of You who has participated with showing off your awesome projects or just visiting and leaving comment love (so appreciated!)

Today's lineup

Friday, September 12

Sunshine-quilting

 
Sew Peace to Peace

 
MoosestashQuilting

 
More Stars in Comanche

Living With Purpose    (you are here)

What a week!

The See You in September blog hop is three days strong now, 

and I am so happy and grateful to have been a part of this all summer.

The talent, creativity and energy that you ladies put into your projects just amazes and inspires me; and as Mdm Samm says, the best is yet to come.

Thank you to all of you who have participated in this hop . . . those of you who have shown your creations can breathe easy now . . .

 and sit back and enjoy the rest of this hop (they pass far too quickly ). . . or is it 

get working towards the next hop?!

And we are just a few short hours away before we continue with this week's beautiful creations . . . more wonderful RBD gingham and 2 other projects as well. Golly, but this is fun!

When was the last time you looked forward to Monday?

Whoops...thanks Carla for catching that I had put the 15th rather than the 8th,
 I really am getting ahead of myself . . . LOL
please picture if you will . . . me rolling my eyes and shaking my head
at getting the dates wrong, accompanied by an embarrassed smile
Oh well . . . here is the correct line up

Monday, September 8
Quilting Quietly
Creatin' in the Sticks
Procrastination Queen
Lovelli Quilts
Cherry Blossoms

and I'm thinking I'll add the rest of the week's lineup just to be sure . . .

Tuesday, September 9
Just Let Me Quilt
Marjorie's Busy Corner
The Quilting Queen Online Blog
Marla's Crafts
K and S Sweets and Stitching (sorry ladies and gents - no post)

Wednesday, September 10
Secretly Stitching
Buzzing and Bumbling
Quilt n Queen
Quilted Delights
Grandmama's Stories

Thursday, September 11
Susie's World
Needled Mom
Cate's Linens
How ART you?
I Like To QuiltBlog
Quiltscapes

Friday, September 12
Sunshine-quilting
Sew Peace to Peace
MoosestashQuilting
More Stars in Comanche
Living With Purpose


cause we all know mistakes can be made more than once LOL

Ok . . . it's time to grab a drink, find your comfy places, and settle in for some "wow" factor.

See You In September

And we are off . . . to an excellent beginning

It is so much fun to have participants from so many time zones

and here is a reminder of our hop schedule

RBD, hoping you are able to visit and see how many of us just love your gingham.

Thank you for saving your medium-sized gingham . . . it is my favourite size after all!

Grab a cup of your favourite beverage, and enjoy the show.

Thank you Madam Samm and all you wonderful hoppers!

Wednesday, September 3

Sew Incredibly Crazy
Bumbleberry Cottage
Thimblemouse and Spouse
Mad Quilter's Disease
In The Boon Docks

Thursday, September 4
Jane's Quilting
Life in the Scrapatch
Sew Many Yarns
Gracie Oliver Arts
Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Friday, September 5
Stitchin' By The Lake
Coeur d'Alene
Words & Stitches
TheSlowQuilter
Pig Tales and Quilts
All Thingz Sewn

Monday, September 8
Quilting Quietly
Creatin' in the Sticks
Procrastination Queen
Lovelli Quilts
Cherry Blossoms

Tuesday, September 9
Just Let Me Quilt
Marjorie's Busy Corner
The Quilting Queen Online Blog
Marla's Crafts
K and S Sweets and Stitching

Wednesday, September 10
Secretly Stitching
Buzzing and Bumbling
Quilt n Queen
Quilted Delights
Grandmama's Stories

Thursday, September 11
Susie's World
Needled Mom
Cate's Linens
How ART you?
I Like To QuiltBlog
Quiltscapes

Friday, September 12
Sunshine-quilting
Sew Peace to Peace
MoosestashQuilting
More Stars in Comanche
Living With Purpose

Monday, September 15
I Piece 2-Mary
Till We Quilt Again
Vroomans Quilts
Nini and the Sea
Seams To Be Sew

My Quilting Journey

Tuesday, September 16
Life, quilts and a cat too
Meadowbrook
Apple Avenue Quilts
Just Keep Swimming
Patchwork Sampler
Sew We Quilt

Wowee! The First Hop . . .

back after summer break is sew very close to beginning!

August surely has just simply flown by; don't you think?

Wednesday is September 3rd. Just what is so special about September 3rd? 

Thought you'd never ask . . . LOL

Why it is . . .

whoops, sorry! Hope I didn't get you in the eye with my pom poms!

I'm just so excited to be cheering a hop that is going to be filled with GINGHAM! The bestest gingham . . . RBD Gingham!

The line up for this week is . . .

  Wednesday, September 3

Sew Incredibly Crazy
Bumbleberry Cottage
Thimblemouse and Spouse
Mad Quilter's Disease
In The Boon Docks

Thursday, September 4
Jane's Quilting
Life in the Scrapatch
Sew Many Yarns
Gracie Oliver Arts
Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Friday, September 5
Stitchin' By The Lake
Coeur d'Alene
Words & Stitches
TheSlowQuilter
Pig Tales and Quilts
All Thingz Sewn

 

See you soon!