Baltimore Album Quilt and Guild Bag Swap

Baltimore Album quilt.  This is the raffle quilt for the Stoney Creek Quilters' Guild 2012 show.

Members bought block kits for $10.

They were refunded the $10 when the completed block was returned.

Some of these blocks are so pretty - with added details like embroidery and beading.

At my Caledonia guild we have a February Valentines Bag Swap.  I sent a pattern out to the members back in October.  The bags get filled with $10 worth of 'stuff'.  Anyone who participates gets to choose a bag. 

This (as you have likely figured out already - I know you are pretty smart) is the bag I brought home from the meeting.  The chocolates are all gone already.  Or relocated to my thighs?

DH and I went skating last week at the local arena.  The 'adult' hour is from 12:30 - 1:30 and costs a whole $3 per person.  It's only $2 if you can convince them you are a senior.  And actually, it really only costs if you can find the sweeper guy and give him some money.  There were 4 ladies skating, 2 men skating, and DH and I.  I was the entertainment (translates to:  fell on my arse and slid across the ice).  I am hoping that if I go a few more times I will stop feeling like a bobble-head doll.  When you try to do something (ahem) athletic that you haven't done in, like, more than 20 years, there is a bit of a learning curve.  It's kind of embarrassing that several people have already asked me SERIOUSLY if I am wearing a helmet.  I know I'm bad, but...

Lantern Quilt, another one

This Lantern Quilt was made by Doris - the gal who traveled to Asia with me in 2009. She made this as a souvenir quilt, using fabrics she bought on our trip.

I used a variegated thread - Signature 'Victorian'.

It has wool batting - my favorite.  It shows the quilting beautifully, and is very light in the quilt.

Hmm.  What I wish I was doing. 

Hah - you're thinking:  "Passed out under the coffee table????".  Well, perhaps getting there might have been fun, but no.  I just mean SLEEPING.  Today was another 5 am morning.  It is so frustrating to lay in bed feeling really tired, but unable to nod off.I woke up from a bad dream where I was fighting with DH over taking out the trash, and I was trying to refinish or paint something (?) and I'd left a teeny dog in a cardboard box for weeks without feeding it.  Crazy stuff.  As you can clearly see, I do not mistreat my dog.

I think I was stressed out over mom.  I went to visit yesterday and she was not happy.  Just not happy.  She wanted to come home with me.  She left me at the elevator which is really unusual.  It is so hard to see someone you love unhappy.  And not a darn thing you can do about it.

And, just so I don't leave you miserable and depressed:

Dresden Fan quilt & lucky draws

Here's a beauty of a Dresden Fan quilt.

A feather meander was used in the white background.

Overall view of the back.  Did I mention I love looking at the back of quilts?

A closer view showing the borders. 

Last night was my Binbrook guild meeting.  I took my January UFO and completed hand stitching the binding.  Check my UFO page (see above) for the pics.  I should have bought a lottery ticket yesterday, if the guild meeting was any indication of my luck.  I won the Show & Share draw.  I won the Block of the Month collection.  I dropped those blocks like a hot potato though.  I have ENOUGH ufos.  As much as I like the blocks...  But to continue:  I won the 50/50 pot.  I wish the universe was always that generous.

Stash Report & Quilting & Movie Review

Stash report

Used this week: 5.5 m

Used year to date: 16.5 m

Added this week: 0

Added year to date: 0

Net for 2011 down: 16.5 m

And what have I used all this fabric on???  The above quilt, which is for the Morning Out class.  I started the quilting yesterday and hope to finish it in time for Monday's guild meeting show & share.  Lord willing and the creek don't rise.  DH is in charge of the kitchen while I'm on these manic missions.  I just ask him to throw food down to me occasionally.

I also finished an Underground Railroad quilt this week.  Love samplers.

And I REALLY love that border fabric.

Last night we watched The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg.  Stinker. Save your money.  They (?) must have paid someone to get a nomination for Best Picture.  I have no idea why the story seemed compelling enough for anyone to invest millions of dollars to put it to film. 

In retaliation for the man movie, I'm looking forward to tonight's Hallmark movie on tv.  I've got my kleenex all ready.

Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products - Food Investigations - NaturalNews.tv

Well, this news certainly shocked me this morning.  Check it out.

Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products - Food Investigations - NaturalNews.tv

Farmer's Wife quilt

This week I spent mostly quilting this Farmer's Wife quilt. Made from templates - oy, yoy, yoy. I do love sampler quilts, so I really enjoyed this job.

Freeloaders have been stopping in for supper - eating the farmer's leftover corn. I let Sadie out and she will sit on the the porch looking at the geese, while the geese look at her. Then she decides IT'S TIME and she'll take off at a mad run and scare the poor buggers away.

As you can see from the above photo the weather is totally crap here.  Cold, blowy, snowy, stay-in-the-house weather.  In my dedication to the craft I fought my way outside and taught a workshop at the Stoney Creek Quilters' Guild.  The gals made placemats with ribbon borders and tea cozies with kite tail borders.  This was a perfect one day class.  All tea cozies were done or ready for quilting, and everyone finished at least one placemat.  Good job ladies.  Wish I'd remembered my camera.  The class snafus were one set of half squares that needed to be unsewn because they were not right sides together (oops).  Then the sewing machine which kept magically unthreading itself.  There were a few 'what the hell????' moments until we figured out it was an 'easy threading' needle (note to self - don't ever buy those!!!).

Yesterday while DH and I were out at the movies with Luke & Mel, Luke's parents were out visiting Mom at the new 'home'. I hope I am as cheerful as Mom when I'm her age. If I make it to her age.

Movie review: we went to see True Grit with Jeff Bridges. If you are a fan of the John Wayne version you will enjoy this but find parts of it a little too... graphic. If you have never seen a western you will find it interesting and a good way to pass a couple hours.  You probably won't decide westerns are your favorite genre.  You will need popcorn.

White Wholecloth & Bowling with the Red Hats

Every once in a while I get a call from someone with a QUILT EMERGENCY.  This is going to Kenya and still needs to be blessed by the minister, so I did a few extra quilting hours.

Today was Red Hat day.  Our loose schedule is the third Thursday of the month and we all take turns arranging an outing. We went to the new Thai restaurant in town.  Lunch was great but my mouth was burning.  The more I ate, the hotter my mouth got.  I'm glad our wait staff were close by filling up the water glass.  Afterwards, we hit the bowling alley.  We bowled two games, two teams of four.  My team won (no thanks to me).  I think a couple of the gals (on the other team) should be in the minus points category for throwing their balls with two hands from the front line.  Is that even legal???

I thank everyone who has given me encouragement over mom's recent move.  The day went well and mom seems to be settling in all right.  Sis and I went to sign the papers yesterday.  While we were in the office with the administrator, mom was at the monthly birthday party.  They get the cutest cupcakes which are COVERED in a good half inch of icing.  Mom had pink icing all over her nose and mouth - she just dives right in there when there is something sweet on the table.  There was a fella playing the guitar and singing for an hour.  He played some good oldies that the party goers really enjoyed.  It made me wonder what they'll be playing when I'm in the nursing home.  Elton John tunes?  ZZ Top?