Walking in a Winter Wonderland

A fun walk with my little dog, Ginger. She is sporting adorable yellow Pawz booties; and her winter overcoat. With the extreme cold weather we've been having she has happily used the pee pads provided, but we simply had to take advantage of the yummy sun and warm temperatures yesterday.

This was her first time wearing booties, and I have no doubt how much they helped her to enjoy her walk. The tractor had not yet come by to clear the snow from the night before, and yet she did not mind walking in it. She has previously attempted to stand on only one paw (rather unsuccessfully).

Please pardon my horrible one-handed camera yielding skills...I promise I'll improve ;)

Still Reflecting...

and sharing a new link today...

Choose to live before it is too late

Robin's Nest

I can attest to the hospital parking lot being full.

That day I looked at it as an inconvenience...

today I will think of all the people in the building;

and I will think of home.

Reflections

The following words are copied  from Michayla Roth; she wrote them when she launched her blog:

 This Extraordinary Life at michaylaroth.com

They have profoundly touched me, and I really wanted to share them here with you.

Moments.

Life is made up of them. Some of them are exhilarating, others depressing. Quite a few of them are actually downright boring. There’s no way of knowing when one moment will end and when the next will begin or if a moment that began in joy will end in pain, and vice versa. But one thing is true about all of them: they are fleeting.

That’s part of the beauty of life. No moment lasts forever. They come and go, and though we cannot hold them, we know that more will follow, and who is to say that those will not be more lovely than the ones we cling to now? Through all the changeableness of life, through the moments we hold tightly and the ones we wish would end, there is one constant, and that is the One Who created us.

God’s goodness to His people never changes. His plan of redemption never changes. And His promise of life unending will never change either. Someday, if we cling tightly to His hand and follow Him through fire and bliss alike, we will find life that has no end. We will no longer see in moments but in eternity, and all that we called beautiful in this life will be as pale glass and fallen ash in comparison.

This life is just a dressing room for that one, and moment by moment, our chances to make this life something worthwhile are slipping away.

We Support You - blog hop

Jan 29^th 

Life in The Scrapatch

Living With Purpose

What About Rheema?

Kwilt Krazy

This was/is to be my final hop for a while...honestly I don't even have it in me to begin. It is a beautiful pattern and I will be making it. I am going to be making this pattern into a pillow case for my aunt.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my last hop post. All your words were very much appreciated. Please don't worry...we are improving. Been sick with the flu last week, still trying to find our energy. Going to work regardless...they are sick there too and there are few if any available as replacements. Hope you are feeling better too Carol.

Happy Stitching! Thank you so much Mdm Samm and Pat!

*edited: Samm, please check your email to confirm receipt*

Jan 30^th 

Just Let Me Quilt

Stitch and Quilt

how arT you

Living My Dream

Feb 2^nd 

Quiltscapes

Made By Me In Red

Ga's House

Sew Incredible Crazy

Feb 3^rd 

My Quilting Journey

Creativity Amongst Chaos

Peanut's Patchwork

KaHolly

Feb  4^th 

Kris Loves Fabric

Words & Stitches

Jane's Quilting

Tea Time Creations

Feb 5^th  

Selina Quilts

Dutchess Crazy & Sane Quilting World

Moose Stash Quilting

Lovelli Quilts

Feb 6^th  

I Piece 2 - Mary

Baa's Amazing Adventure

Quilted Delights

The Blended Blog

Feb 9^th 

Stitchin By The Lake

 Tea Leaf Quilts

Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc

Seams To Be Sew

Stitchen' My Life Away

Feb 10^th  

 ^{Creatin' In the Sticks}

^{The Quilting Queen Online}

^{Everyone Deserves A Quilt}

^{The Quilted Cat}

Hill Valley Quilter

Feb 11^th  

Buzzing and Bumbling

In Stitches and Seams

All thingz sewn

The Slow Quilter

Crayon Box Quilt Studio

Sew We Quilt

Tammy 4 all Seasons

Living with Purpose

Grammie Q's

Stitchin By the Lake

Ipiece2-Mary

Just Let Me Quilt

 

My most sincere apologies . . .

I am finding myself incapable of completing these exquisite patterns by Brooke Nolan and Cori Blunt in this wonderful hop of Mdm Samm and Mary.

 

Working on the winter vintage pattern, I grabbed some white 14ct Aida, and used tea to stain my fabric...I'm about 1/2 way through the dress, and I added pearls to the stole. I have some beautiful angora floss to fancy it up...but I am having difficulty working on it...or anything else for that matter.

 

 

 

I'll be stepping away from hops and other ...a-longs till I get my bearings. I'm finding my boat tossing among the waves; which without a doubt means that I am not taking care of business.

 

Please accept my apologies. Thank you

What I did yesterday

You may remember my goodbye post from last December. Puddles was the puppy we got from a friend the second summer we were in this house. She developed cancer of the facial mask and at her age it was better to put her down.

This house has now been almost a year without a dog. I don't think I have ever gone that long without a poochie. If nothing else it really gave me time to mourn the loss of my friend. Dh and I have been discussing getting a new dog for a while. This time we wanted a small dog; actually we have decided to each get our own. But we don't want puppies, and we prefer to "rescue" them.

We had a lead two weeks ago on a small poodle type, that the lady was looking for a new home for her two year old dog because she was moving into a residence and could not take it with her. I debated about whether or not we were ready, especially as we are moving into the winter season. By the time I called, the dog was already promised...but to her granddaughter, so I was pleased for them.

Moving on, I decided to check out a local shelter website that I used to visit often, but only found a German shepherd. Too big for us! Though there was mention of a yorkshire becoming available soon, so I emailed them on Wednesday, spoke to the lady on Thursday who would have brought the dog by that afternoon, but I was on my way out to work so that was impossible. Told her I would be by on the weekend.

Yesterday morning, I checked the website before we left, and now there was a picture up of a chihuahua. Dh does not like this breed, yet amazingly enough told me to check out both dogs when we got there and see if  "either one does it for me". So off we went...it is like a 45 minute drive one way. Can you believe that the yorkshire was adopted on Friday?!

So I got to meet the chihuahua. The lady at the shelter is not sure how old she is, but she seems in good form. She does not bark, she may be deaf or almost deaf (I really cannot confirm this yet). She is so very, very tiny weighing in at about 4 lbs. But she looks like a fox, and is ginger coloured. I left her in the car with my husband for 5 minutes while I went to check out a beagle (NOT happening!) and when I came back, Dh and "Ginger" had bonded. So I now have my very own chi chi! I was concerned what would happen if the original owner came looking for her, but was told highly unlikely as she had been a "drop and run" at the shelter. The lady also lowered the price as the yorkshire was gone before I got there. This ended up being perfect, as it was exactly what I needed to spend on food, leash, and dishes.

She and Harpo the cat are getting along okay. I am so glad! I got a free doggie pillow when I bought the bag of dog food...just perfect, she has spent the night there. So far though she prefers the taste of the cat's food to hers. I'll have to talk to the vet about that, as that is where I buy my kitty food...special urinary tract stuff as Harpo is prone to infection. Not cheap! but cheaper than the vet bills for sure.

Anyway...here are the two photos I snagged from the shelter's website...just until we can start taking our own. She is a cuddly little thing!

Presenting . . . Ginger

I am a proud new mom!

New Hop - WE SUPPORT YOU - signups open

You don't have to go far these days to here of someone affected by cancer.

When Mdm Samm learned of some near and dear within our quilting community were afflicted she did what she does so well 

and put forth her cry  asking if any are willing 

to create and celebrate community.   

We Support YOU ! was born.

This is the newest hop created and hosted 

by Mdm Samm of Sew We Quilt 

and organized and cheered 

by Pat Callihan of Life in the Scrapatch.

Join us in a worldwide community celebration of love and hope 

by making a 3' x 2 1/2' bra in support of those with cancer. 

Pattern designed and provided by Mdm Samm

free of charge to hop participants

Just think what you could do with this creation . . . wall hanging, tote bag, pillow, and the embellishments . . . embroidery, applique, whatever your sew creative mind can come up with! 

Think how loved and SUPPORTED 

these courageous people in your life will feel. 

Or make a great charity gift item . . . there are no limits.

Visit this link for all the information and sign up directions.

I can't wait to show MY support 

this awful disease has/is afflicting several of my friends and family.

I understand that there are still a few spots in the

Fab, fab, fabulous cross stitch - pinny - tammy bag hop.

Click on the image for the link to learn more.

Blogathon Canada 2014 - Day 5

Good day, and welcome to my little corner of Quebec!

Rawdon is a municipality located on the Ouareau River in southwestern Quebec, Canada, about 60 kilometers north of Montreal. It is the seat for the Regional County Municipality of Matawinie, in the Lanaudière region. Wikipedia   (area 193 km²)

 

Should you ever be out this way, here is a link to a list of activities.

A big thank you to Sew Sisters for hosting this event 3 years running...and to our other sponsors: Aurifil, Northcott, Camelot Fabrics, Robert Kaufman, Timeless Treasures ... It is great to see the Canadian quilting/blogging community come together and be outspoken at least for one week...and then return quietly to our respective corners. *wink*

And heartfelt gratitude to our two host bloggers today:

Josee of The Charming Needle, and
Janet at Cariboo Crossing Chronicles

I am a crafter, somewhat new to the quilting world. I love to knit, cross stitch, sew, and now quilt also. I read somewhere that quilters love to cut fabric apart into itty bitty pieces and then sew them back together...yup, that describes me!

I also love to participate in the sew creative and fun blog hops with Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt...it has been a year now that I've been tugging on the coattails of some very creative people...and I've been learning so much. Today is actually the last day of the the T'was the night hop...the only hop of the year that I did not participate in.

Here are a few of the things I have done this year...

Ten minute table runner for the Black Tie Boogie blog hop.

My first foray into EPP. This is a needlekeep designed by Debby Kratovil. 

This was for the Kona blog hop in January.

Door stopper

My first foray into paper piecing. I fell in love with the process!

I love to feed squirrels . . . and as a result I have many that come visit me and provide daily entertainment for peanuts (pun intended)

My first full sized quilt is a picnic blanket. Really works more like a table cloth over a picnic table as most of us cannot sit directly on the ground.

I also made my own checker board (Quebec game with 30 tokens per person); using gingham, decorated with chicken scratch stitching and a wooden dowel for the tokens.

My first fabric postcard...see this post for info on the next exchange; sign ups open till Nov. 22

A friend of mine is having a baby (actually she had a boy, named Liam just recently), and this was the baby quilt I made...

New kitchen curtains with RBD gingham, with some hand stitching.

Testing of a paper pieced bear paw for Tartankiwi. Great pattern!

A fabric travel placemat for the Black Cat Crossing blog hop.

A blackwork kitty WIP for halloween next year...to be made into a table runner.

I just love making things; and jumping from blog to blog meeting new people!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

If you have time, take a look around...I look forward to any comments you may have.

Postcard Exchange

Woo hoo . . . another postcard exchange with Brandy Lynn Designs!

The last one was a maple leaf for Canada Day, and this one is . . .

Snowflakes!

Click on the image above to sign up between Nov. 1 - 22; 

and you can make and receive up to 5  postcards.

 

The process?

1. Sign up (click on the snowflakes for the link)

2. Make your snowflake postcard(s)

3. Take a photo of your postcard(s)

4. Email photo(s) to Brandy Lynn (for the pinterest page)

5. Receive the name(s) and address(es) of your exchange partner(s) (Brandy Lynn sends emails out in the evenings)

6. Mail your postcard(s) (in time for your partner(s) to receive before Christmas)

7. wait impatiently for your card(s) to arrive

The pinterest link with photos of all postcards sent will go live Christmas Day 

(you know . . . for that downtime ~ NOT)

Need a postcard tutorial? Go here . . . My Sweet Prairie Studio

Need postcard supplies? Go here . . . Monika Kinner-Whalen (Etsy shop)

Anything goes as long as you can mail it. 

Mail it naked (i.e. don't use an envelope) postcards are always fun to receive with the postmark. Just be very careful not to use anything that can catch in the postal machinery.

But, if you want to add lots of bling, feel free to use an envelope; there is no requirement not to.

I'd love for you to join in . . . mail is  always fun to receive, 

and really, there is little better than a homemade card!

Blogathon Canada 2014

 

Let's Celebrate Canadian Quilting Bloggers!

Find new blogs, make new friends and win amazing prizes!

Here's how it works:

 
Each day host bloggers will introduce themselves and their work on their blogs. They will include links to more blogs from their province so you can visit those blogs as well. The host bloggers will also host a giveaway of some of their favorite goodies from the Sew Sisters store so you have a chance to win every day of the week!

Not only can you win prizes from Sew Sisters on the host bloggers blogs, you can also enter giveaways on Sew Sisters blog during Blogathon week!

These prizes are sponsored by our fabulous co-sponsors:

The Hosts:

Monday, November 17	BC	Stacey	Stacey in Stitches
Monday, November 17	BC	Jessica	Momiji Studio
Tuesday, November 18	Maritimes	Linda	Scrapmaster
Tuesday, November 18	Maritimes	Linda	Stitch Lines
Wednesday, November 19	AB	Kelsey	Everyday Fray
Wednesday, November 19	AB	Leanne	She Can Quilt
Thursday, November 20	SK	Heather	Peace.Love.Quilt
Thursday, November 20	MB	Lori	Night Owl Quilting
Friday, November 21	QC	Josée	The Charming Needle
Friday, November 21	Territories	Janet	Caribou Crossing Chronicles
Saturday, November 22	ON	Lorna	Sew Fresh Quilts
Saturday, November 22	ON	Sandy	Upstairs Hobby Room

Join the Party:

 

If you would like for the host blogger from your province or territory to link your blog in her post please write to:  connect@sew-sisters.com and they will add your blog to the list. Please note that you need to be a blogger living in Canada and your blog should have posts about quilting or crafting to be eligible.

 

Grab the Blogathon Canada Button for your blog so you can have a quick link to all the fun!

 

 

See you on Friday, November 21...as linked from The Charming Needle

 

Embarking on a new quilt adventure

Last year I joined a quilt guild for the first time. The Patchwork Guild of Rawdon meets the second Saturday of the month (9-11), and has a workshop the fourth Saturday of the month (9-3). I can tell you it is not always easy to make it when I finish work at 8 a.m. but I do my best to try anyways.

This year, they decided to do one quilt throughout the year. We will be doing Elizabeth's Sampler "Let's Begin". 

We are to learn and complete one or two blocks per month. The first two blocks that were demonstrated were Friendship Star, and Churn Dash...using the hand piecing method. Well, hand piecing is not me and so I will be machine sewing these blocks. 

The two blocks we received at the October workshop last weekend were the Sawtooth Star with appliqued heart, and the Maple Leaf.

These are the fabrics I bought for this project...

 

From right to left...

1. light background
2. main fabric (floral print)
3. Dark (rose) print
4. Medium (pink) print
5. Light Green print (contrast #1)
6. Medium-Dark green print (contrast #2)
7. Sashing Fabric
8. Posts
9. Border
9. Binding
10. Backing fabric (not pictured here)

A lady at my local quilt shop spent a good amount of time with me, assisting me in my choices. I would never have chosen these, but I totally love them and I can't wait to make this quilt (49" x 69").

Only one problem, I'm terrified to cut the fabric for fear of messing it up LOL.
I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough.

Hopping with Black Cat Crossing ~ Take Two

Woo Hoo! Good morning everyone. Welcome to those who are just joining me, and a great big thank you to those coming back (explanation post here)

Thank you again Mdm Samm and Wicked Wendy for organizing this wickedly fun hop. And a huge thank you to Maywood Studios.

I don't usually "do" Halloween anymore, no decorations here, but there was a time when I did. Working on the re-organization in my sewing studio over the summer, I found some old halloween fabric.

I bought it at Walmart (at least 3 metres, goodness knows why) back when my son was in daycare. It was the year he turned 4 (he just turned 17 this month) and he had a pillow for nap time and I decided to make him some "seasonal" pillowcases. He loved it, I was thrilled.

Now with so much fabric leftover, it has sat there stored away since. Well, some time ago a found a (fabulous to me) free pattern for a "Take-Along Place Mat" designed by Cinzia Alloca; that has sat there waiting for me to get over my phobia of zipper installation.

This pattern had easy to follow explanations and pictures...so what stumped me? The "hand sewn" binding. Guess there is a first time for everything. Can I just say that I have discovered...I DO NOT want to do it again for a while. I love this pattern and want to make many more, but I will figure out how to do a machine sewn binding or "horror of horrors" for you serious quilters who prefer hand binding, I will change up the backing fabric and turn it into a "faux" binding by pulling it around to the front.

Here is where I was when I wrote my "Take One" post...

Thanks to a very kind comment from a friend, I did not give up and leave you with the above photos. Her kindness spurred me on to complete what seemed insurmountable and overwhelming at that time. Thanks C! Look, no more clips! Though I must say that poor puppy dog has been wagging it's tail ALL NIGHT! (so much for being back quick lol)

Very proud to have persevered and love my finished mat. Unh unh...you don't get to see my horrid hand stitching...here, look instead at this...

I've already begun plans for a table runner for next year...a kitty in blackwork...now this kind of handstitching I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE *wink*

Well, people will be rising soon for breakfast so I'm gonna go check out all the lovlies who shared my day with me...oops coffee cup empty...another refill and then some hopping...

Wednesday, October 22

Creatin' in the Sticks

 

(you are here...) Living With Purpose

Moose Stash Quilting

The Quilted Cat

Lines, Color, and Art