Jelly Roll Heart Quilt & New Year's Happenings (1 UFO down...)

This is a lovely, modern Jelly Roll quilt.

I really like the way the pantograph echoes the heart shape.

On New Years Day I stuck with my traditional activity - a friend came over, we stitched the afternoon away, then had Chinese Food for supper.
I started the year off by putting these UFO blocks together - this was a Block of the Month project at the Caledonia guild in 2016/2017.  After I completed the blocks I decided I was tired of the colours - I think I have too much red/yellow/blue in my house these days.

I completed the quilting and the binding the first week of the year - a UFO knocked off the list and the start of a new box of Donation Quilts.

I am currently practicing Cathedral Windows blocks.  This is going to be a hands-on lesson for the Binbrook Guild on January 27th and I really don't want to make an ass of myself.  Today during the blizzard (which has now turned to rain, on top of the several inches of snow...tomorrow should be a doozy of a driving day!) I finished up the instructions.  I also washed and ironed the couple meters of white fabric for the kits.  Hands-on demos take a lot of work!

Here are two blocks stitched together with the additional two print squares added.  This is a good project if you like to do hand work - this whole thing is hand sewn.  The idea, if you want to make a large-ish project, is to make these four-sie units, which are nice and small and easy to maneuver.  Pile them up and eventually start stitching them together into larger units.  As you join these together, the additional print squares are added. 

NEW YEARS COMMITMENTS

Notice that I didn't say "resolutions"?  Not that it makes any difference. 
Anyhow, the story goes:
I'm part of an online forum with two groups.  One for weight loss and the other for exercise committments.  Foolishly, I stuck my nose into BOTH forums - I have committed to losing 10 pounds this year. Weigh-in day is Friday morning(s) and you have to report your weight change from one week to the next. What I like about that system is you know what you were eating for the past week, so you can tell very quickly if you are doing something stupid. Week 1 - up 0.8 (included the NY Chinese - bad!), week 2 - down 2.8 (lots of veggie soup & salads & few starches), week 3 up 1.6 (oh, way too much bad stuff).  This is looking like a roller coaster to me and I sure HOPE the trend goes downward.
In the exercise group I committed to doing three x 20-minute Youtube videos every week.  So far I've done yoga, Qui Gong, Over-50 Exercise, Classical Stretch Essentrics, a weird Asian (fun!) aerobics class, and African Dance.  The African Dance is my favorite so far.  Although the Over-50 Exercise is surprisingly strenuous, and I've had to pause it to go change from a t-shirt into a tank top. 
This past year I've been noticing that I often don't have the strength I used to have, so I'm trying to fight the clock and hang on to whatever pitiful bit of youth I have.  I can still do sit-ups, push-ups, and planks.  And I want to keep it that way.

A Teaser, Retreat Project, Great Friends and Stupid Weather

This hasn't been picked up yet...stay tuned for next week.

Here's one of my drag-around projects that I was working on at retreat.  I am hopeful that I can finish piecing the top when I head up to Margaret's in May.

It's made from 100 of these.  It starts with 100 strip sets, then you add corners to two opposite sides and square 'em up.  Those corners are a pale muted yellow.

I have two go-to aprons and THEY WERE BOTH IN THE WASH.  How was I to cook???  The pink one was made by my friend Jean, and the aqua was made by my friend Karen.  I think of those girls every time I wear these, and that's a lot.  I met Jean somewhere's around 30 years ago, when we were both working in Toronto at RBC answering the Operations Help lines.  Until I started answering those phones, I thought I already knew everything about branch banking.  Whoa baby - I had a major come-uppance.  We connected again doing the same thing in Burlington several years later.  She's currently recovering from a broken femur after a fall on the ice.  **If you are taking a bone-builder make sure you get checked regularly - one of the side effects (oddly enough) is fractures in the femur.  Karen (of the aqua apron) is one of my Beach Girls. In the quiet part of my head I always think I'm the only person with any dressmaking skills but Karen slaps me down over that on a regular basis.  It's good to have friends who keep you grounded. 😘

And BLOODY HELL.  WTF, Mother Nature????  It was so warm on Friday I ditched the winter coat.  It poured rain on Saturday.  Sunday morning I wake up to this???

It's not going to last.  Tomorrow should be +10c.  But I'm still whining about it!

Zentangle Workshop and To-Do List Update

I joined the Ancaster Modern Quilt Guild, partly because I know some of the members, and partly because they seem to have a pretty vibrant program.  Last Saturday I attended a Zentangle Workshop hosted by them, presented by Kim Mastromartino.  You can find her on Facebook as The Inspired Quilter.

Here's some of the little cards we were working on...

Here's my same card after I (maybe?) finished it.  The class was lots of fun AND INSPIRING.  Which we all need, especially in January.  Right?

TO-DO LIST
Yep.  Knocked another item off my list.  The mending & hemming item - complete.

My plan for today was to start the drapes, however that was slightly interrupted by ... oh, let's call it TECHNOLOGY. This is how my day has progressed so far:

• 7 am, go for a pee then crawl back into bed.
• 8 am, try to shut off the alarm before it wakes DH up, but inadvertently turn the radio on.  Oops.  Sorry.  Get up.  Let Sadie out of her crate and give her a morning massage.  Lucky dog.
• 8:03, take my morning pills and head out with Sadie for a pyjama walk.  She's recovering from knee surgery back in November, so in the morning she gets a massage, Range Of Motion exercises, and then a short walk.  Usually it's DH who takes her, but sometimes it's me - jammies & housecoat, yoga pants, ear muffs & winter coat.  It's surprisingly refreshing.  And I really Do.Not.Care. if people call me the weird old woman out in her pyjamas.
• 8:30, coffee & internet - read the forums, check the news, decide to investigate the KETO diet, and message on/off/on/off/on/off...etc. with the Beach Girls.  Discuss diets with them and pretend I have no idea what they're talking about when they mention the number of calories in alcohol.
• 10:00, beg DH to go get us breakfast from McDonalds.  Continue internetting & messaging while waiting on food.  Decide that KETO is never going to happen in this house.  DH would not eat 90% of the required foods.  Salmon?  Avocado?  ZUCCHINI?!**?!
• 11:00, breakfast is finished, go down to the "real" computer.  Search out "low carb diet", print out recipes that have a slim chance of passing muster.  (ha ha - "slim" chance - get it?)  Let's face it - if we're going to continue having McDonalds for breakfast we need to cut down somewhere else.
• 1:45, finish and send the letter of concern to one of my sales reps - yeah, I'm not particularly happy about something.
• 2:30, update the Caledonia guild blog after having gone through the photos I took at the January meeting.
• 2:45, start working on my blog.

Did you notice anywhere in that timetable a place where I mentioned "brush teeth" or "get washed" or "put on real clothes"?  So, here it is, 3:30 in the afternoon, and I have yet to make myself presentable.  Do YOU think I'm going to get those drapes started today?  

Stay tuned for the next instalment of The Caledonia Quilter's "Never-Done-Because-She-Won't-Get-Off-The-Damned-Computer List".

The Storyteller Quilt and "business casual" fashion advice

Here is a Block of the Month from Connecting Threads:  "The Storyteller".

The central medallion gave me some challenges as far as quilting designs, but I think it turned out well.

Six borders.  Yah.

Gorgeous back.

This is the only way you can see the Celtic Braid design in the outer border.

BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE
This does not qualify.  My advice, if you are expecting customers, is to NOT dress like this.  I was painting the bedroom.  That took me longer than I anticipated, and the customers arrived earlier than anticipated, so, you know... I look bad.

Speaking of painting; I really miss the days when I could go up and down the ladder a million times, then crawl around on the hard floor for hours, and STILL have energy to go out and party all night with friends.  These days when I'm finished I need help to crawl down the five stairs to the kitchen so I can open the aspirin bottle.  Afterwards, someone needs to tip me over into a hot bath with epsom salts.  sigh.

New Years Day project and Year End Stash Report 2014

Here is the runner I made with my long-distance sewing enthusiasts the other day.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  A link to the Quick Curve Ruler is here.

Yesterday I started binding the Tumbler placemats, so I will finish those today.

Next, I will add a border to the sides of this quilt, then call it finished.  It's a weird (in my opinion) size right now at 90 x 101.  The 101 length is good for a queen size bed - allowing for a nice drop at the foot and enough for a wee pillowtuck.  A width of 90" gives a 15" drop on each side.  That will shrink up to probably 13" after quilting.  Then it will shrink more after it's washed (using 80/20 batting, eventually).  So... I think I'll add 5" to each side making this a square quilt.  Then I can FINALLY tick this off the 2014 UFO Challenge chart.  I asked Margaret for permission to tick it off after I found it and ironed it the other day.  Ha ha.

I also have to find a bit of time for some lovin' and playin'.  

And now... (insert very theatrical musical interlude.  Use your imagination.)

The 2014 STASH REPORT

Used December 20.1 m
Used YTD         89.05 m
Added December  6 m (totally not my fault - a ticket winner from guild)
Added YTD     125.75 m
NET 2014         36.7 m added

I'm also making a half-assed resolution, to get more fit this year.  There is a forum thread at Machine Quilters Resource for Plank exercises.  If I read (notice that lovely word "IF") the daily reminder I could (really, I could) get OFF my chair and do my plank.  That's what I did this morning although it didn't work yesterday and hopefully it's what I'll do tomorrow.  Geez, talk about setting myself up for failure. This comment is totally FULL of non-commitment (is that a word?).

Disappearing 9-Patch, Wildlife, Stash Report

Hey!  I finished the Disappearing 9-Patch! This just needs a label and then it's being donated to Quilts of Valour.  These are super-simple to make.  A link HERE for the instructions.

I've seen these totally random and scrappy.  I'm not crazy about them without a theme, so I was more structured in my fabric choice.  Every block had a yellow center surrounded by blue.  The corner units were scrappy reds.  Once this is cut apart you get a nice continuity in the quilt.
All of my patches were cut at 5", and I made 30 of the 9-patch blocks.  After adding a 2 1/2" outer border this finished at 69" x 82".


Mmm - I'm lovin' this new panto:  Undulating Leaves.

On Saturday we got a surprise visit from Mr. Snowy Owl.  When he took off his wing span was pretty darned impressive.  Hopefully he was hunting the stupid rabbit I showed you last week.

STASH REPORT
Used since last report 6 m
Used YTD         17.85 m
Added since last report 0
Added YTD  0000 (heh, heh, heh, back-patting)
Net YTD        (-17.85 m)

In spite of last night's light dusting of snow which made outside look really pretty, I am so sick of winter!!!  The back patio and the driveway are total sheets of ice.  I haven't been for a walk since Tuesday.  Why do we live here??  Should we move to Singapore and become the favorite/closest relatives of my great-niece?  One of my customers gave me a gift of a six month subscription to The Quilt Show - my exercise these days is winging the computer monitor around and getting on the torture machine while I watch Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims videos.  Yesterday I watched an episode on Scrap Quilts.  Next up I will learn all about hexies.  The site also has a bunch of puzzles from quilts, which I am totally addicted to.  sigh.  Spring, where are you?

Medallion quilt

This is the beautiful medallion quilt I've been working on.  It's not very big but there was a LOT of ruler work.

This center section is actually a pre-printed panel.

This medallion motif was the basis for the designs that were placed in the pieced border.

Designs made to match the above medallion.  I love my IQ computer system.

The back of the quilt included a matching medallion.  It is not exactly centered, but I got it pretty darned close.

Ah, Family Day.  DH made paninis for lunch.  Garlic butter - yum!!!  I had mine with pickled beets that I made last fall.

Walks must include many, many, tinkles.  Like Hansel & Gretel leaving a pebble trail.

Dog walking is all about following verrry closely with our nose whoever was here before us. Ha ha, it was so windy Sadie's tail is blown practically up over her head.

THE WALK is my normal exercise but some days in the winter I just will. not. go.  That is how I broke my wrist - it had been so bitterly cold for days on end, I had ants in my pants and needed to go DO SOMETHING.  Hence, the skating.  I think spring is on it's way, though.  The rain pounding on the windows woke me up this morning.

Braid Quilt & Healthy Cookin' Recipes

Here's a shot of the full quilt.

Border quilted with swirls and curls.  This reminds me of fiddlehead ferns.

Teeny quilting in the pieced sashing strips.

Feathered wreath in the focus blocks.

Ooh, and the backs are always so pretty!

Here is my lunch and my supper from yesterday. Salads and a hard boiled egg for lunch.

Salmon, long grain & wild rice, salad for supper. My green salads usually leave a bit to be desired.  Once I hit three ingredients it's done.  This has garden lettuce (I think it is romaine), red peppers, cucumber, and bonus blueberries.  The dressing is homemade, from my niece Mel's recipe.   Technically it is for spinach salad, but both DH and I really like it, so I make up a jarful and we use it most of the time.

This type of meal (high fibre, low fat and/or good fat) is pretty normal for me, so I dunno why my LDL number is high.  Just the luck of the draw, it seems. The doc says my other numbers are VERY good, so he's quite happy to go along with me avoiding cholesterol meds for the next year. We can re-evaluate in 2013. He also told me, with a little smile, that all my exercising will raise my HDL (which is already nice and high) but will probably not lower my LDL.  Gee, great. Thanks.  And, for the record, I've already hit my 150 minutes for the week, so I can be slothful until Sunday.


Mel's dressing - single salad bowl listed.  A jarful is in brackets.
Dijon Mustard 1 Tbsp. (1/4 c.)
Honey 1 Tbsp. (1/4 c.)
Cider Vinegar 2 Tbsp. (1/3 c.)
Olive Oil 3 Tbsp. (1/2 c.)
Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously.  If you make a jarful, keep it in the fridge.

I cook salmon the same way every time.  A coating of brown sugar, then a healthy dose of Spicy Pepper Medley by Club House.  Wrap loosely in foil and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

The zucchini salad recipe can be found at food.com , but I'll save you the work of looking it up.  **I reduce the sugar to 1/3 cup.

Yummy Zucchini Salad

Servings:  8

• 2 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 cup chopped red onion
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup relish
• 1 - 2 cups canned chick-peas
• 3/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, toss together the first, six ingredients.
2. In a jar with a tight fitting lid combine the rest of the ingredients; shake well.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour ; a day is better.
4. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Saturday Stitchin'

What I'm listening to (purchased on the cheap previously loved at The Beat Goes On)

Oh, such a pretty, girly, braid quilt.

I'm loving the curls, but I thought I'd get a second opinion.

I have dived (grammar???  I dove???) right in to the exercise nonsense for my cholesterol.  Thursday - nice day, walk/jog for 40 minutes.  Friday - pouring rain & cold outside, torture machine for 10 minutes.  Saturday - cool & rainy/cloudy, walk/jog for 30 minutes.  The record-keeping will be done on my work calendar because the daily squares are nice and big and it's in my face every day because I work (or at least I'm in my workroom) every day.  DH is very impressed that I've kept it up for three days so far.  If I'm true to form, this will last for a month or two and then the slacking off will start.  Especially if my bloodwork shows good results. I remember getting annoyed and rolling my eyes at Mom when she decided that since her blood pressure numbers were good she could stop taking her meds.  I will be just the same.  sigh.

Cholesterol

I eat right. All summer long I buy about 3 vegetables.  Most of our stuff comes out of the garden.  And it's organic, or at least as organic as I can get it.  We've been eating lettuce for a couple of weeks now.  I'm picking fresh cilantro and dill.  The beets and peas are up and the beans should follow in a couple days, once the rain starts.

I have hobbies. That's my friend Karen with the sign that I should have bought.

I have good friends. When we're not fighting over fabric.

You read my blog, so you know I cook most of our food from scratch.  And I don't mean that I scratch open a box.  I watch what I eat, walk the dog, hoe the garden, clean the house.  And I certainly get my fill of heart-healthy red wine.  So why oh why do I have high cholesterol????  I have been watching my numbers creep up for the last few years and now it's at the point where I am ALMOST ready to start taking the pills.  The little argument has been going on for a week now:  take 'em.  no, don't take 'em.  yeah, take 'em.  no, not yet.

So, this morning I decided to look at the Heart & Stroke website to check out what, exactly, I need to do exercise-wise to reduce the LDL.  150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week in minimum 10 minute intervals.  So, getting on the torture machine for 5 minutes, which is my habit, does not cut it.  Having a nice leisurely walk with the dog does not cut it.  Pulling weeds?  Nope.  Lazy yoga?  Nope.  Starting today, Sadie & I went for a walk/jog for 40 minutes.  I will have to make myself a fancy spreadsheet thingy so I can keep track of my time, because I do not want to take drugs for this.  If there is no spreadsheet thingy it is too easy to cheat and mis-remember.  I can count vacuuming and floor washing, which will make those thankless jobs a little more worthwhile.  DH kindly mentioned that 'people your age have bad knees, bad ankles and bad backs and should not be jogging'.  Ahem.  Honey, talking to me like that, you'd best hope I don't use your toothbrush to clean the bathroom counter.

If you decide to check the H & S website, take a look at their recipe page.  There are lots of yummy meals there.  I've already planned to make the Squash & Spinach Skillet Side this fall when my squash is ready.  And tomorrow I may make the Soy Ginger Glazed Asparagus.