Longarmers Day In St. Jacobs

Friday was a get-together day with a bunch of longarm quilters. We went to St. Jacobs to see some of the Kitchener-Waterloo quilt shows. If you look closely you will see Beach-Day-Diane and Paducah-Bus-Trip-Seat-Mate-Karen. White was apparently the wardrobe choice for many.


The tea room at the School House was the BEST. Our table was set with a silver tea service. One of the other tables had a vintage featherweight sewing machine on it. Another was decorated with tiny shoes.

We sipped from china tea cups and the tea was served at our table. The room was strung with vintage aprons. I still remember making an apron as my very first Home Ec. project - we did cross stitch embroidery on the waist band, pocket, and lower edge. Mine was red gingham and I gave it to Mom.


These cute little cookie dishes are glued. I dunno - taking glue to your fine china is like painting woodwork - you need to be very firm in your conviction. If you're wondering where the cookies went, they are now firmly planted on my hips.

The day didn't start out too well for Linda - some dickhead in a U-Haul truck hit her car and ripped the trim off her bumper in Tim Hortons' parking lot. However, Karen (ever on the alert!) ran out and got the name & details of a WITNESS. The culprit was confronted and has promised to pay all repair costs.

Knocked off a UFO

I mailed off two Quilts of Valour yesterday. Judy and Bernadette - thank you very much for your contribution of the tops, fabrics, bindings & quilt bags.

Today I finished a UFO. Yippee!!! This is a purse that we made at a guild hands-on night a year and a half ago. When I pulled it out of the bag I found a surprise - a half yard of fabric I have nooo recollection of. Must have won it the night of our meeting?
I used purse handles that I bought in Tokyo and added a magnetic closure. And a bunch of pockets inside, of course. I'm going to transfer all my cherished belongings over tonight and bring this with me to my longarm quilters get-together tomorrow.

My Andy Warhol moment

Hey, I'm famous! I was mentioned on the Craft Gossip web site. Here's a link!

Note to self: When you make banana bread, don't put the nutmeg back in the cupboard in the spot where the cinnamon for your morning oatmeal usually goes. Definitely gives your breakfast a 'wake-up' call.

Female Hormones

This quilt is a pretty wedding gift for someone.

Last weekend was busy - out with family on Friday night to see Star Trek (very good movie! Although I'm not sure about Winona Ryder as Spock's mom?) and then company for dinner on Saturday. This weekend was no-busy and beautiful weather to boot.
I've been obsessed with the idea of a Drunkards Path quilt for years but cutting the pieces always put me off. While DH was out planting the veggie garden I put Jaws to work cutting out the top.

I was in the midst of a female hormone boost, zipping around like a fart in a windstorm. I know it's not just ordinary energy because the steel wool chin hairs are also enjoying a hormone boost. Damned things.
The top's all done. I plan to cut the striped border down into scallops after the quilting is complete. The floral print was the challenge fabric that Paducah-bus-trip-seat-mate-Karen picked out for beach-day-Diane and I. We have until next April to finish. I think I'm ahead of the game at this point. nyahh nyahh Oops, how childish of me. On the down side, now I have ANOTHER UFO.

I dug up a third of the cutting garden to pull horrid barn grass out. Two thirds to go.... And have you ever grown garlic? If you leave some flowers to turn into little bulblets they spread like crazy. The clumps are so thick I was feeling nauseous from the garlic fumes, and I LIKE garlic. A lot of that is going in the compost. Moving in to the middle third, it will be chives making me sick. They are thick as hair on a dog's back, too.

French Braid Quilt

I think I've been spending too much time with sewing machines lately. Today I caught myself apologizing to a bobbin. Seriously.

I've just finished quilting this beautiful French Braid quilt.

Then I used 'Jaws' to cut the excess backing fabric into 2 1/2" strips for my customer.

Another UFO

My Accuquilt has been placed on Mom's old microwave cabinet. Casters make it easy to take it for a ride around my workroom.

Today I reduced 7 pair (pairs? any English majors out there?) of old jeans into a pile of rubble and a pile which will become the dog's new Ragtime car blanket. It was not fast, but the edges are all clipped already so it will give me more martini time. This is going to be one layer of denim and one layer of flannel. No batting in here - it's just to keep muddy paw prints off the upholstery.

Back to Quilting

Coffee mug of the day, brought to me by April. Not just a good quilter, but a good potter too. Thanks, April. I've had a hectic week, with Beach Day Diane and Mary Ann here for two days. Mary Ann did the trunk show for Caledonia Guild - and did an excellent job. I love her quilts. I took the girls to Ottawa Street in Hamilton, which is all fabric shops and antique/resale shops. A good time was had by all. Diane bought another goblet for her collection and I picked up a wee wedding gift my nephew & his bride-to-be.

Dirty Dozen Quilt - quilting is complete. I'm working on the binding now. This is due by the June meeting of my Caledonia Guild. I should actually meet the deadline!

Here's a lot of straight line quilting. This customer has been granted exhibit space for the month of July at Greenwood Quiltery in Guelph. I will be sending a notice out to everyone closer to the date.









I'm caught up on customer work, so I can take the weekend to play. Or clean the house (yuk!! note to self: find sugar daddy). My new Studio Cutter from Accuquilt was delivered and DH set it up for me two days ago. I'm just itchin' to cut some fabric. I'm glad it's raining today so I can stay inside and ignore my weeds.

Retreat at Margaret's

If your bathroom looked like this wouldn't you take off for the weekend?

Sue & I went up to Margaret's Thursday afternoon and stayed there until Sunday morning. We went to 2 quilt shops, Fabricland, a quilt show and a chocolate factory. We mailed my postcards for the MQR swap and hit the grocery store for necessary supplies.

We all completed a top from our UFO lists - yaaaayy!!! Now, to get the quilting done.




Yes Margaret, Christmas was over a while ago. Easter too, so move on to the spring wreath.



An observation about men, women, and food:
We gals ate like royalty. Menus were carefully planned, recipes were printed out and fresh ingredients purchased. Cooking was done by each of us and cleanup was shared by the non-cookers. I was allowed to relax (!) and enjoy a martini when I wasn't needed in the kitchen. What did DH live on while I was away? Cheddar cheese alternating with peanut butter sandwiches and frozen pizza. Perhaps it's true, and men really ARE from Mars.

New Obsession - Rug Braiding

In Paducah I became obsessed with rug braiding after seeing a few vendors working on them. I bought the book and DH made the frame for me. So here I am, cutting my fabric into 2" strips instead of washing my windows. Did I really need a hobby?

I'm heading back outside to do battle with the grass and weeds in my flower beds. Why won't that stuff just grow in the lawn instead???

Mom has only been out of the hospital since Wednesday, and she may be going back in. The 'home' called this afternoon - her extremities are all swollen (I think that means arms & legs). So my garden battle may be short lived today.

Quilt progress

The wave was easy. The little stars are taking forever. And ever.

Design Inspiration

I'm working on my Dirty Dozen challenge quilt, which will soon be OFF my UFO list.

In Paducah I found this great Dover book.





Inside the Dover book I found this great quilting design.





In my workroom I found this (very expensive) quilting tool.

I will show you the finished quilt later.