Empty bobbin

We can send a man to the moon but we can't figure out how to avoid running out of bobbin thread. sigh. Most of the time that's only an inconvenience. Occasionally it is really noticeable. I have matured a bit as a quilter and now bury threads in this situation, to conceal the thread change. This is generally the ONLY time I bury threads because it adds about 5 minutes per bobbin. On an 8 bobbin quilt, that's an additional 40 minutes and I don't have my pricing structured to cover that.

1. Pick the 'ending' threads out back to within a few stitches of a pointy place in the quilting design - things will hide better here. Pull up your new bobbin thread and start stitching at the point. Very carefully stitch over top of the 'ending' few stitches. This will prevent the 'ending' stitches from coming out.

2. Clip off the tiny tails of the 'ending' threads. Tie your beginning threads using a quilter's knot. The knot should be about 1/8" away from the quilt top.

3. Thread this tied set of threads into a needle (I use a self threading needle to keep myself from going totally crazy). Insert the needle right at or one stitch away from where you began.

4. Travel between the quilt layers to maybe an inch away. Make sure you are between the layers!

5. Tug until the knot 'pops' into the quilt sandwich. Clip off threads close enough that they will suck back into the sandwich. Ta da. The tiny spot of double stitching is only noticeable when someone takes a HIGH RESOLUTION photo for their blog and says "look here".

Christmas quilts

It seems to be Christmas week here. The wall hanging from Christmas ties was finished today.

UFO ALERT!!
My very own (!) Christmas sampler is quilted and ready for hand sewing of the binding.

Sadie is doing what dogs do at Christmas... getting underfoot. She's discovered the fan on the fireplace (it only took her 2 1/2 years - not the sharpest pencil in the can). I laughed when I saw her standing in front of the hot air blower - enjoying herself as much as she would with her head stuck out the car window.

On my way home from Margaret's on Sunday I was listening to interviews on the CBC. Since then I've been pondering the fact that a human is the only creature on earth (presumably) that KNOWS it is going to die. This encourages us to leave a legacy, such as children, or permanent 'works' of some kind. I have not left any children. Any of you who know DH and I may give thanks now. Is this the reason why I INSIST on making gifts for people, even when I know they end up either in the trash or at the Goodwill Store? Is this why I enjoy teaching...am I leaving a legacy of my knowledge? When I send someone a hand made postcard am I leaving them my love? What do you think you are leaving behind? And is it enough?

Margaret's Retreat

Another wonderful long weekend at Margaret's. I think the feature this weekend was the breakfasts that Sue made. Saturday was waffles with fresh raspberries, maple syrup and whipped cream.


Sunday was Eggs Benedict (a direct result of a challenge I made to her based on the Tobermory retreat). That woman sure can cook - she's never made Eggs Benedict before.



Stack 'n Whack top started in... 2002?


Three-dimensional bow tie blocks - the blocks are done and the top is nearing completion. No thanks to Jilly (the dog). If you get anywhere near the floor she comes over and either skittches across all your blocks or French Kisses you (blech). Sometimes both. If she is too busy watching the insides of her eyelids, then it's the cats making merry on the quilt.


Margaret seems to have lost the beginning or the end. I'm not sure which.


Pfffttt - what a crummy place for Anne to sew, eh? Margaret is living the life of Riley in this wonderful home.


Everything is not perfect. She really needs a new salad spinner.


Time to go home? Already?

Christmas Quilt Commission

I have a very cute commission quilt I'm working on for Christmas. I'm taking Christmas ties and turning them into a wall hanging.


Who designs these cute things? I had to remove several little musical boxes, which have left holes in the ties where the lights used to live. I will fill those with Swarovski crystals. Stay tuned - more pics some time next week when I have this finished.


If you recall a few weeks ago I blogged about Margaret sending me a surprise package in the mail, which turned out to be a shoe panel. It seems I have more than one great friend. Carol Anne sent me a charm pack of co-ordinating fabrics. How exciting is that???


I'm going up to Margaret's tomorrow for a nice long weekend. I'm bringing Pumpkin Squares. This is a recipe from my s.i.l.'s sister (which makes her my sister-in-law-law?). Darlene makes them with way more sugar, so her version has a MUCH bigger fan base. Here is my version, which is still pretty good.
=======================
Pumpkin Squares

Ingredients:

1 - 18 ½ oz (510 gm) box yellow cake mix
½ cup butter (melted)
4 eggs
1 - 16 oz (473 ml) can pumpkin
½ cup sugar
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup carnation milk
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
=================
½ cup oatmeal
½ cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
1/4 cup butter (slightly softened)
===================
pre-heat oven to 350* (or 325* for glass pan)

grease 13 x 9 baking pan

• Reserve 1 cup cake mix in a small bowl.
• Lightly beat one egg in a larger bowl and stir together with remaining cake mix, and melted butter.
• Press into prepared pan.
• In a large bowl blend remaining 3 eggs, pumpkin, sugar, brown sugar, milk and spices.
• Pour over cake mixture in pan.
• To the 1 cup reserved cake mix add oatmeal, pecans, and softened butter, sprinkle on top of pumpkin layer.

Bake for 50-60 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Family Visit

I packed up the suitcase again last weekend and headed off with DH to visit the outlaws. Why is it that when brothers get together it's all about pickup trucks, trailers, and lawn equipment?


We had a great visit. A stop at one of the zillion farm markets netted us many peppers (sweet and hot), apples, pears, and an apple pie. We got into a conversation about movies and spent the rest of the weekend trying to remember what movie it was we saw last. We remember the date, the venue, the dinner, the company, the snacks we bought. But the movie? Gone. It wasn't until Sunday night it finally came to me. Surrogates with Bruce Willis.

Our dog went for her first sleepover with my brother & s.i.l. She's a country dog and has no idea she is supposed to do her 'business' when she's out for a walk. It seems we owe them some carpet cleaning. Stupid mutt. My s.i.l. was being sweet and had no intention of telling us the whole drippy story. My brother, on the other hand was most eager to share the dog story. I guess he was kinda ticked about taking Sadie for not one but TWO long walks in the pouring rain, just to have her pee on the carpet. I really feel awful about that, and embarrassed that my dog is that dumb. However, these are the same relatives who left their dog with us when it had it's teeth removed and a bunch of warts taken off it's head. I figure on the family abuse scales we're pretty even. Thank goodness we love each other. And I brought them two nice bottles of wine from Pelee Island Winery.

No quilts to show you - I've been recovering sofa cushions and throw pillows. My workroom turns into a total disaster area during upholstery jobs.

Quilting, Karen's Retreat Bag

Not every quilt starts out nice and flat.


This quilt did not need a Quilt Whisperer. It needed a bash on the head with a rubber mallet. However, as you can see - it turned out great. Quilted with the Baptist Fan template from Circle Lord.


Now for a little closeup of the wonderful bags Karen made for the retreat.


The apron is my favorite article - especially since it ALSO has my name embroidered on the tie.

Included in the bag:

• apron (made by Karen, maybe with help from beach day Diane)
  
• water bottle
• emergency information vial
• pink bath scrubber
• Mary Maxim catalogue
• needle card from Cherished Pieces quilt shop
  
• lovely tin containing safety pins, also from Cherished Pieces
  
• chocolate bar from Hershey's Pennsylvania
• scissors with beaded fob (also made by Karen. Sheesh.)
• a red leash for our pets (4-legged or husbands?)
• a long pink tube - filled with the beads that swell up when wet. You wrap it around your neck in hot weather and it keeps you cool. (also made by Karen. Sheesh again.) This will come in very handy during hot flashes.
• not included in the photo - a coaster (also made by Karen) which was signed by all of us at the retreat as a memento.
• also not included in the photo are the big hugs we all gave Karen for being so thoughtful. She is absolutely a woman who will remain in our hearts and minds for ....ever?
  

Tobermory Retreat

Don't you love it when you take a really stupid photo of yourself? My traditional 'departure' photo gets a wee bit HORRID when the driver is sitting in the car with the engine running and I have to take a pic with my arm stretched out in front of me. But I hear that it's a good habit to laugh at yourself.


Crazy crazy Karen made each of us a wonderful PINK bag stuffed with all kinds of goodies. The best is the apron - here we are on the stairs leading up to the loft quarters.


The cottage (and believe me, I use that term loosely) is huge. H.U.G.E. It sits on the shores of Lake Huron. This was Tuesday's sunset.


Debbie, Mary Anne and Thursday's lunch. Not included in the photo are the desserts (leftover apple cheesecake, monkey balls from breakfast, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream). OMG we ate so much I was surprised I fit through the doors on the way out. Tuesday night was pork tenderloin, Wednesday night was salmon, Thursday night was chicken & stuffing. Breakfast was fresh baked every morning. Along with the desserts listed above we also had blueberry pie and several assorted cheesecakes. My pancreas is still screaming from the sugar overload.


Karen is crazy (as I already told you) and will make this bracelet for Diane 4 times before we head home. Once she had a bad closer, two more times were a bad fit. Fourth time lucky.


Sewing room #1.


Sewing room #2.


Cocktails on the deck. Hey Spike!! Wake up!! Bad timing on Carol Anne's part (Spike's mom) - the hot tub had been winterized on the weekend JUST BEFORE we got there.


A very special bottle of wine Karen & Diane brought back from Pennsylvania.






Spike guarding the quilt-in-progress. Spike owns the cottage and is the only four legged animal ever allowed inside.


Lingering over coffee. No one wants to go home. I wonder how long it would take for us to actually get sick & tired of each other?


All cleared out but the riff raff.


The cottage (ahem!) is a fabulous spot for a retreat. You might want to book it with some friends for next year. Here's the link.