Where Have I Been (Part 3)?

 Hi There!

Well, if you read my last Blog post, you'll remember that I had a sore paw and was trying to lay low.

During the first week of June, I decided we needed some flowers for our deck.  

I do NOT have a green thumb.

Last year, I paid fairly big moolah and got several nice pre-potted hanging flowers.

And, basically, I got what I paid for.

Nice flowers ALL summer long.

No droopy, dead looking, pathetic flowers.

This year, I did the same thing.

80 bucks got me this...

And this one.  

They're both identical and with the red and white, 

I thought they looked like our Canadian flag!

*grin*

And these 2, in the orangish colors.

Got home and Gilbert hung them up.

Voila!

Instant summer!

My cousin, Lynn's been telling me that I need to ICE my palm.

15 minutes and 15 minutes off.

I decided to pick up a Tim Horton's Iced Lemonade

and ICE my palm, while sitting on our deck!

Aaaaaah.... 

Summer Time!

 Gilbert and I have several outdoor renovation projects to do, this summer.

We decided to have the lumber delivered.

June 6th....

The delivery guy was really nice and helpful!

 Lumber was delivered.

Now we need a few nice weekends

so Gilbert and work on these projects.

*s*

June 10th, I started putting together 

my SnowBall SnowMen Table Runners.

Its all done.

Just waiting for my personal Longarmer 

to create his magic!

Afterwards, I cut out freezer paper and ironed these letters to fabric:

 "Keep Calm

and

Quilt On"

Yes, I'll be sharing pics as I move along on this project.

*grin*

Last Sunday - June 16th - Gilbert and I went to our local SPCA.  

They had a Giant Yard Sale Fund Raiser for the SPCA.

We picked up this cutest bow!  

You attach it to her collar with velcro.  

VERY well made!

Well, that's about it for this evening.

I've got a few more pics to share with you....

tomorrow evening.  I hope.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Rosa

Where Have I Been (part 2)?!??!?!

Hi There!

I've been having pain in the palm of my hand and it's been getting progressively worst.

Finally got in to see a specialist who told me that I had a "nodule" in the palm of my hand and to try using "Voltaren" for 2 weeks.  If that didn't work, she'd give me a Cortison(SP?) shot - NOT!!!

And, as a last resort, if the Cortison(SP?) shot didn't work, she'd remove the nodule.... Once again.... NOT!!!

Soooo, I bought some Voltaren and put some on my palm, almost every day ... and eventually I stopped 'cause I didn't notice a difference.

Two weeks ago, my pain was in constant pain and I pulled out the Voltaren cream and this time, read ALL of the instructions.

It said to rub the cream on the affected area and "rest".  DUH?!??    *slapping my forehead*

I was putting on the cream and carrying on with my life....  The rotary cutter would dig into that nodule and the ironing?!?!?  WOW!!!  Another major pain activity!

So, like the specialist told me, use the Voltaren cream for 2 weeks. 

Which I am now doing.

And, I'm forcing myself to take a 2 week "right hand" break.

Today's my last day - YEAAAH!!!

So, I haven't been as productive as usual but with Gilbert's help, managed to find some quilty stuff to do, anyhow - THANK GOD!   *grin*

My first project?   This was a UFO and only because when I started machine appliqueing the letters, I quickly realized that I found this to be boring.

But, since the letters were already ALL cut out, I ironed them on with my LEFT hand and started appliqueing them!

Saw this pattern on the internet and I thought it was the CUTEST thing, ever, for a baby!!!

So, that was one UFO project, out of the way.

What was I to do next, before I went stir crazy?!??!

I pulled out this puzzle that my friend, Jo Spindle, had sent to me eons ago.

Played with it for half an hour, while sipping my Tim Hortons coffee.

And, then, I gave up!  Note: My Aunt had previously figured out how to put this puzzle together and had put numbers on the back of each piece.  

Yup!  I cheated!

LOL!!!

Only 9 pieces and its INCREDIBLY difficult to put together!

Anyhow, its now almost 8 a.m. and I'm heading downstairs.

Off to see what other kind of adventure I can create...

Have a Fantastic Friday!

Rosa

Where Have I Been?!??!?!

Hi There!

You're probably all wondering where I've been.

Well, lately, I've been trying my best to "behave".

Let me share with you....

Since my last blog post, I've completed the top to "Blue Skies".

Partially sewn strips on my Design Wall.

And here's another picture...

Top is completed!!!

At this point, its in "Rosa's Box", waiting to be quilted, by Gilbert and Bertha.

In the meantime, Gilbert pulled out this quilt from "Rosa's Box" and quilted it.

I named it "Varrroooom!"

My Aunt Agatha had pained these antique cars with Cameo a LONG time ago.  As she was cleaning up, she came upon them, gave them to me and said, "Do what you want with them."

I decided to put them together and give them to her older son, on her behalf.  

Plus, he restores cars!

Put the quilt on our neighbour's fence and snapped a pic.

And here's a close up of this quilt...

Well, I figure that's enough for now.

I still have quite a bit more projects and photos and news to share with you but I didn't want to overload you, this morning.  *s*

Have a Terrific Thursday!

Rosa

This Week's Progress - More "Blue Skies" and "Winter Twitterings"

 Hi There!

This week, I've been working on cutting and 

piecing my "Blue Skies" blocks.   

Yesterday afternoon, I can proudly say that all my individual blocks were all sewn together.  I now have to sew the blocks side-by-side to make "strips" and then, sew up the "strips.

That's one of the fun parts!  

Your work starts to materialize - no pun intended - in front of your eyes!

Here are a few strips that I've pieced together, so far.

And here's a picture of my sewing machine and the "Blue Skies" blocks.

In the evenings, I like to work on some "hand" stuff.

I finished my 1st block from the book,

"Winter Twitterings".

My friend, Frummie, had given me this book, when I was visiting her in Florida, a while back.

I figured it was finally time that I started it!

Here, its raining.  Its been raining FOREVER!

Can Mr. Sunshine come out an play?  

I've had enough of Mr. Rain, for now.

Wishing you a Wonderful Weekend!

Rosa

"Blue Skies" and "Bee Happy"

 Hi There!

So, Mom asked that I make her and Dad a quilt with blues and yellows.

Had a blue and yellow striped fabric that I've been meaning to use - its so cheerful!

And, finally decided to do Bonnie Hunter's quilt from her book "Adventures in Leaders and Enders" but I decided to simplify it, a bit.

Here are some of the blocks on my design wall.

I'll post another picture once the top's put together.

Calling this quilt "Blue Skies".

And today, I finished binding Gilbert's daughter's baby quilt.

Its from "Henry Glass" and its called "Bee Happy".

Tomorrow, I need to print out some more Inklingo melons so that I'll have something to hand piece when I go to my quilty group, on Thursday.  (more on that, later)

And its now 10h45 and I'm EXHAUSTED.

Good night, peeps!

Rosa

Friday's Progress Report

Hi There!

Remember that "Agenda" that I thought I'd force myself to do?

Well, I tried.  

I seriously did.

And all it did was make me miserable.

Monday was my Dear Jane day,

for example.

Tuesday morning, I would sit there and wish I could work on my DJ but Nooooo....  I "had" to work on Tuesday's project!

I've had previously taught myself to continue a quilty project until the end.  And that's how I manage to FINISH my projects!

This way, I felt like I was a butterfly, flittering from 1 flower to the next!

Sooooo, I've decided that the "Agenda" will be put into effect IF I have no other (recent) project that needs to be finished.

With this in mind, Gilbert quilted "Easy Al" yesterday and this morning, I will do the binding this morning

See?  I'll be able to brag that THIS quilt is finished!

*grin*

Gilbert took a picture of "Easy Al" on the frame,

once it was finished.

And yesterday, while Gilbert was quilting "Easy Al", I started sashing my Dear Jane blocks to make a good sized lap quilt and managed to add the outer borders, too!

Today, I'll add the label on the back and send it to my Longarmer.... 

(AKA Hubby or Gilbert)...

*grin*

For the past week, Gilbert and I have been searching for some Bumblebee fabric.  His daughter and her hubby are expecting their first child and have done the baby room in a bumblebee theme.

Do a Google search for Bumblebee fabric and chances are, you'll find the "Bee Happy" line by Henry Glass.  They have a GORGEOUS panel with coordinating fabrics, of course.

Well, we looked high and low, on the internet and ... do we order from a quilt store or from eBay?  Which had the better shipping?  Do they also have the coordinating fabric, to go around the panel, for the back of this baby quilt and for the binding?

Questions! Questions!

Along with...

Decisions.... Decisions....

Finally, I called up our local Fabricville and would you believe - they had the EXACT same panel, with coordinating fabrics?!??

Off to Fabricville to pick up the Bee Happy fabric panel as well as coordinating fabrics!

I was in Quilter's Heaven!!!!

(here, I've added borders to the panel...)

Here's a closeup of one of the bumblebees...

Gilbert and I just need to decide on what to put on the label.  

Then he will quilt his grandchild's quilt.

He said he'd probably do freehand "loops".

He thought it would represent the bee's flight.

Will post pictures later!

Have yourselves a Wonderful Weekend!!!

Rosa

Easy Al Tutorial

 Hi There!

I've finally finished the center of

"Easy Al".

I started working on the "outer" border and should have it all completed by tomorrow or Sunday.

See the mini triangles?

I'll be adding those on the outer border. 

 

So, while I was working on these blocks, 

I thought, "Hey!  Why not put up pictures with instructions on this quilt?  Kinda like a Tutorial!"

You'll only need to make these 2 blocks...

Several times, of course.

:-)

We'll start with the 4 patch.

Cut 3-1/2 inch strips - royal blue and a variety of plaids.

Sew these strips together - side by side.

Once sewn, cut the strips at 3-1/2 inches, into a 2 block.

Then, sew these 2 blocks with another 2 blocks to make a 4 patch block.

I'll give out the exact amount of blocks that I needed for a single quilt....  

Didn't think to take the number done.

But you need to make a bunch of 4 patch blocks.

Next, cut a 6-1/2 inch white background... or beige or white on white or black on white, or whatever.

You need a pale color block, cut at 6-1/2 inch.

Cut some plaid blocks at 3-1/2 inch square and put 'em on the edge of your white 6-1/2 inch block.  Here, I took a chalk line and marked from edge to edge.

Sew along your chalk line and cut 1/4 inch off, once sewn.  

See those 2 pieces of triangles that I cut off?  I saved 'em and that's what I made the mini triangles with.... on the outer border of this quilt.

Here's a picture of one of my mini triangles.

Before I sewed my mini triangles, I squared 'em up to 2-1/2 inches.

Will post final pictures of "Easy Al", once its all quilted and bound.  AND, I'll post the amount of blocks required to make a single quilt.

Have Super Saturday!

Rosa

Getting Organized - Progress Report

Hi There!

Remember, a while back, I decided to designate certain quilt projects for each day of the week?  Well, here's my progress report and my take on how this "Agenda" has been going.

Yesterday, was my "Dear Jane" day.  

Mind you, I also did errands and did laundry, etc, etc... but managed to finish 3 Dear Jane blocks.

Today, was my "Inklingo" day.

I hadn't done any Inklingo on my laptop, downstairs AND I got a new (Brother) printer in January(?) and had never used it for Inklingo purposes.

Anyhow, it took me about 1 hour to find the Inklingo pattern that I wanted, for my Rose Dream block.  I had to finally write to Linda Franz - I simply could NOT find it!

Soooo, another 1/2 an hour to decide on which quilt I wanted to make...

I mean... HONESTLY!!!!

Just take a LOOK at these gorgeous Rose Dream quilts!!!

And then, ANOTHER 1/2 hour or more, to find the perfect fabrics, in my stash!

By then, it was time for lunch!

Trust me - it never takes this long to print an Inklingo pattern!

Its just that everything that COULD go wrong, went "wrong" today!

*insert wry grin here*

Came back to my Sewing Studio and try and figure out the proper dimensions for this pattern.

Did I mention that I "thought" my ink cartridges were empty and we... I mean Gilbert put in new color cartridges?

FINALLY, at 3h30 I was had printed out a few shapes and managed to finish - almost - 1 of the 4 sections.

I was debating as to whether I should machine piece this quilt or hand piece it.

Hand piecing won!  

I want perfect seams and ... well... 

just a cute and perfect lap quilt!

Here's the pattern that I selected.

Cute, eh?

And who knows, eh?

I just might even hand quilt it, too!

*grin*

As to my feelings about designating certain days of the week to certain projects....  

I'm not really likin' it.  

For the past 2 years I've forced myself to concentrate on ONE project at a time .... 

And now, it feels like I'm jumping from 1 project to the next.  My heart is now yearning to work on and FINISH the previous day's project!

I'll figure it out.  

At least I'm never bored!

LOL!!!!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Tomorrow's my "Asian Quilt".

Rosa

Bobby's (Hospice) House Quilt #1 - FINISHED!!!

Hi There!

Friday, Gilbert finished the quilt that we will be presenting to Bobby's Hospice House.

This morning, I finished the binding!

I decided to "piece" the back. 

That's it, for today's Progress Pics!

Have a great week!

Rosa

Thursday and Friday's Activities

Hi There!

Progress Report Time....

Wednesday, as posted on here already, I finished off one of my flowers for my "Asian" quilt.  I still haven't come up with a proper name for this quilt and its made with "South Seas" fabric, so, for now its my "Asian" quilt.

Thursday, I managed to make another flower block, for this quilt.

Here's the flower collection, so far.

I think I need 9 flower blocks for this quilt.

Gilbert had my 1st "Bobby's Quilt" on Bertha,

our Longarm machine!

Its now ready to "bind".

I will post pictures once that's done.

And here's my new quilty project.

Its for my Dad.  His name is rather difficult to pronounce in English, so a lot of people call him "Easy".  He also LOVES his plaid shirts.  My Mom calls them his "Al Borland" shirts - re: "Tool Time" with "Tim, the Tool Man Taylor".  

Remember that show?

Taking all this into account, I've decided to name this quilt

"Easy Al".

By 4 p.m., I had managed to piece 4 rows!

I got the idea for this pattern from a picture of a quilt that I saw in one of my books.

They called it a variation of Jacob's Ladder.   

So far, it's coming together real easy and fairly quickly.  

And I'm lovin' the look of it, too!

This morning, Gilbert and I have a couple quick errands and then, this afternoon.... I am volunteering at our local Quilt Guild show.

Have a Super Saturday!

Rosa