First......

Let me say, Happy Valentine's Day (missed it), Happy St. Patrick's Day (missed it) and Happy Easter/Passover (just missed it!)....  Okay, now we're up to date.  I have been a bit "under the weather" the last couple of months and it's been extremely difficult for me to sit in front of the computer so I've pretty much been out of cyber touch.  I don't really go on the computer much at all so I'm behind with e-mail, facebook and of course, the blog. I couldn't, for some unknown reason, even use the laptop to blog.  I believe I may have figured that little problem out as I am using the laptop now.

After that amazing birthday party that Liz hosted I decided to start chemo again.  I managed to get through two treatments before I became so sick that I just couldn't keep it up, so, as of now I am no longer doing chemo.  Unfortunately, the treatments do not seem to be doing anything besides making me sick and after close to a year of constant treatments (three bouts of chemo and one bout of radiation) I decided I really needed a break.  Whether or not I will commence treatments at a later date has yet to be decided. At the moment I am just taking each day as it comes - enjoying the "good" ones and trying to ignore the bad ones.

What I am enjoying is being able to get back to doing a bit of quilting.  I am finally engrossed in my "Top Secret" project which hopefully I will complete in the next week or two.  I've also managed, with a great deal of help from Liz and Mucie, to start sorting through all the "stuff" I've been hoarding and we have cleaned out the hall closet. Jonathan arranged for us to get a storage locker in the building so we now have all the boxes out of the house - finally.....

He had a friend from Vancouver come to visit the end of March and I was so lucky to have Gail and Cathie come and help me (they did all the work) clean most of the apartment.  I cannot believe how lucky I am to have friends like I do.  You cannot imagine how grateful I am for everyone's help and support.  The visit was a complete success and we've managed to keep the house relatively clean since.  It's certainly easier without all those boxes.  Now, if I can only get all those quilts done that are waiting in the wings I will be laughing......

I am still working on my Scrappy Flannel which I am "big stitching" by hand and Sandy (Lindal) has basted The Farmer's Wife which is waiting patiently in the wings to be hand quilted.  Liz and I sorted through all my threads to choose the colours and I'm just about ready to go.  I work on Jonathan's schedule so that we don't get in each others way. When he's working I am able to use the machines in the dining room so that's when I can get my piecing and quilting done.  When he's off I am usually doing hand work which I manage to do in my sitting area in the bedroom.  I have to say, we really lucked out with this apartment.  The larger of the two bedrooms is large enough for a decent seating area so I can sit and watch TV and do my hand work.  That frees up the living room for Jonathan to have the larger TV and also not have me underfoot.  So far it's working out quite well.

I guess that brings you all up to date and I would like to get some stitching done tonight as I am actually feeling up to it....I will try not to leave it too long before I blog again for those of you who keep up with what I'm up to.

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann 

Ode to Liz!

I have been writing this blog addition for more than a week in my mind!  My body however, has not been co-operating so I could not get to the computer to actually compose it....takes a while for me to recuperate from my infrequent outings.

Liz has been my strength for the past 9 months!  I don't know how else to say it!  She has been by my side, egging me on, making me smile on my bad days and has made most of my good days happen.  She is amazing!  If you know her than you already know that about her.  It is not only me - it is everyone who's life she touches.  

She makes me want to keep on keeping on, even when I am at the lowest of my lows. She puts up with my complaining and bitching and she always finds a way to make me smile. Sometimes it's just a word and sometimes it's a package of Oreo's but is always.  If I don't call the doctor when I'm supposed to, then she does. 

Needless to say, when my 60th Birthday was approaching, it was Liz who insisted that we celebrate.  Yes, I know it's a slight milestone in one's life but I wasn't so sure I wanted to do anything.  She suggested, and then insisted, that we have something and so a party was planned.  It was an afternoon affair, at her home (where else?!?!) with most of my favourite people in attendance....and it was a complete success!  Suffice it to say - it was one of my best days and certainly one of my best memories.  It was such a success that it took me days to recuperate.....and every moment was worth it!!!!

The table was set with all my favourites - a beautiful watermelon carved by Gillian and filled with loads of fresh fruit.  A chocolate cake and my absolute favourite - a white cake with lemon filling and coconut icing......

She put out the best China and did a gorgeous floral arrangement

My favourite - pink roses

I gave strict instructions that there were to be no gifts, this was just a get together with my dearest friends.  There was a lovely box at the front door for cards and needless to say my friends know how to hide gifts in cards.....why am I not surprised!  It may take some time before I get around to writing out all the Thank You notes so I will say thank you here and know that you are all in my thoughts.....

I even let Liz take a few pictures of me - something I truly hate as I am not at my best even on my best days and that was definitely one of my better days.  It was definitely not a "good hair" day!!! 

 About to get rid of some hot air....blowing out the candles

 I almost made the two cakes at once......a lot of hot air

But, I finally had to blow out the 60 on it's own....

It was an amazing day and I enjoyed every moment of it!  When Liz drove me home that evening, admittedly, I went straight to bed and slept for 3 days but every moment with friends was worth every moment I needed to rest......

I even brought Show & Share - it was wonderful showing of The Farmers Wife, especially to the people who have been following the piecing of each and every block.  I began this quilt January 19th, 2010 and I completed the top on February 7th, 2014....it also has two borders already on - the other two to be added (today I hope!)....and luckily there were two people tall enough to hold it up - thank you Cindy and Linda.....

 I am thrilled to be able to show this off.....

This is definitely my "heirloom" quilt....

I had hoped to have the borders and backing done so I could just give it to Sandy that Sunday but I just didn't have enough energy to get it done.  It wasn't an issue at all because she was on her way to Costa Rica for vacation within the next two days so I would have had to wait for it anyway but I can't wait to have it ready to quilt.  I am really looking forward to quilting it by hand.....

This quilt was really a labour of love!  Every block I pieced, every fabric I chose, it was all thought out carefully and I hope that once it is quilted I will have done the original quilt justice.  My hand quilting is not the best but I will try very hard to make it something I can be proud of along with the label which will be very informative.......

In closing - I want to say - Thank You to everyone for coming on Sunday - it was so fabulous to see all of you!  Thank you for all the thoughtful cards and gifts and know that it was one of the best days I've had in a very, very long time.  Mostly - I would like to thank Liz for being Liz - you are the best, ever!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Lists

Yes, I make lists!  I am one of those people who is guilty of making "To Do" lists.  I love lists.  No, I hate lists.  There are definitely pros and cons to lists.  The pro is - you know what needs to be done and when you want to do it.  The con is - if you don't get it done you have to leave it on the list and you feel like you've failed.  For a while I stopped the lists.  I was able to just go about my day, getting things done or not getting things done, but then my yearly calendar ended.  I do like to have a calendar to refer to so I went online and found a blank calendar page I liked and printed it out.  Well that did it - WOW - I thought - I could copy out two pages for each month, one for my quilting and one for my random day calendar.  I could make a list of all the stuff I wanted to get done and of course the calendar page came with a side bar for Things To Do.....I'm sunk now because I can actually set goals for each month - this is bad, really bad!  

In my case, one of the cons is I try to over-achieve, get more done on the list than is actually on the list....when I don't, I feel like I did nothing all day....What can I say, I have high expectations of myself.

So February started out with my list - based on Jonathan's work schedule I know which days I'm "hand" sewing or "machine" sewing.  

The Blitz!
I had 8 blocks to complete as of January 31st - so Saturday I started!  First, I chose all the fabrics for the 8 blocks and then I marked them with the templates and finally I cut them all.  In addition I managed to piece 3 blocks.....

 Block # 82 - Spider Legs - 37 pieces

 Block #110 - Wood Lily - 57 pieces

Block #96 - Tulip - 14 pieces

I also began piecing the last three rows, 11, 10 and 9.  As I completed the blocks needed for the rows I added it to the rows.

Rows 9, 10 and 11 started.

I probably would have kept going but enough was enough and I had Sunday to work on my hand piecing as well.  Sunday turned out to be pretty productive as well and I was way ahead on my list (over-achiever!).  Sunday I pieced another 2 blocks and managed to complete Row 9.

 Block #94 - Tall Pine Tree - 20 pieces

 Block # 104 - Wild Geese - 32 pieces

Row # 9 completed.

Yesterday was a whole other story.  Jonathan was working so I could machine piece.  I did start working on my backing for the panel quilt but really didn't get much done and today was the same - so much for lists!!!  Weird - I just couldn't get my heart into it - too much fiddling and measuring, etc....I guess, but I did get it started.

Last night I stopped early to watch TV in the bedroom so I could get back to my Farmer's Wife - now I am obsessed..... I got another block done and Row 10 is also completed....

 Block #77 - Seasons - 9 pieces

Row 10 completed.

I have one block left to piece - 1 row left to complete and 3 rows to add on to the rest of the quilt top, then the borders and backing and off to Sandy to be basted.  I am now completely obsessed with completing this project......

So much for lists - this was not supposed to be done until some time near the end of next week.  Now if I can only move this motivation onto those backings I have to do I will really be way ahead of the game!  We'll see what I get done tonight - the night is still young.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Moving right along.....

There really is no stopping me at this point.  I dove back into the bag of projects I have been lugging around for a few months and came up with a project I had started a couple of years ago.  This project has a history which dates back to B.C. (before Cock-A-Doodle). 

I began quilting in late 1999 having found Quiltmakers on Avenue Road and I was, from the beginning, a very loyal customer, always purchasing my fabrics and classes there.  When my grandmother, at the age of 100, was moved from a seniors residence where she lived on her own to a resting home in the summer of 2000, I began travelling to New Jersey every three months to make sure things were going well for her.  It was at that time that I began visiting other quilt stores along the route.  Just off Highway 81 near Cortland there was a quilt store named Patchwork & Pies.  It was in an old firehouse on a corner off the main road and it became one of my favourite quilt stores.  It was there that I picked up this kit - Yellow Brick Road is the pattern (well known pattern from Atkinson Designs) and the fabrics were these luscious, earthy toned flannels. 

 Fabrics with pattern

This kit sat in my pile of kits for many years just waiting for the right time.  A couple of years ago I had a private student who was making her first quilt and she wanted to do this pattern.  She chose black and white and red and I pulled out my kit.  We worked together and I am happy to say she got hers done but I had only managed to make a few blocks so the project ended up in the UFO pile.  Since I don't have a lot of flannel projects, I had pulled this one out to complete along with my Bricks & Mortar and the Scrap Flannel I completed in the fall (which by the way has been basted - thank you Sandy - and is ready for my "big quilting" by hand).  On Sunday, with Jonathan away working, I completed all the blocks to make the lap size quilt.

   Completed blocks (sort of)

The pattern calls for 40 blocks for the lap size but you only use 35, however, I think I want to make it one row larger so I will add 2 more blocks to give it a bigger width (hopefully today).  That was about all I could do Sunday and Jonathan was off Monday and Tuesday so I was back to hand piecing.

Monday and Tuesday were extremely productive.  Getting so close to completion I have really been pushing towards the end.  Each block I complete is an accomplishment and I've noticed I left a lot of the really complicated blocks to the end, what a surprise.  I guess we all do that......

I have now changed my strategy for completion and am completing them in the order that I need them to complete the rows outstanding.  This block completes Row #13. 

 Block # 75 - Rosebud - 28 pieces

The next few blocks are the ones I need to complete Row # 12.  I alternate between prepping and piecing the blocks to adding the sashings and cornerstones and completing the rows.

 Block # 86 - Squash Blossom - 22 pieces

 Block # 93 - Swallow - 23 pieces

 Row #13 completed

 Row # 13 attached to Rows 14 and 15.

Having attached Rows 13, 14, and 15 together I now have 4 rows to complete.  Rows, 9, 10, 11, and 12.  I am currently working on Row 12 for which I need 7 blocks some of which are already completed.  The next blocks are still for Row #12. 

 Block # 89 - Steps to the Altar - 26 pieces

Row #12 - started

As you can see, I put quite a dent in the Farmer's Wife over the two days I had to work on it.

Wednesday was a busy day.  Liz picked me up and we headed for Gillian's to have a lovely lunch and a nice long visit.  I was scheduled to be at the Odette Centre to see Dr. O at 3:45 P.M. and we made it in the nick of time.  For the first time in 3 years we only had to wait half an hour until I was called in.

What can I say!  I'm not sure what I was expecting to hear.  The radiation, which I struggled through in October did not do much good.  The tumor has shrunk but not substantially.  Because of where it is located it is inoperable and they can't do a biopsy. So we are back to chemotherapy which, if I chose to do it, will start next Wednesday.  He seems to think that the pain I am experiencing is from the cancer and that the chemotherapy, if it works, will help alleviate the pain.  At the moment I just feel like a guinea pig....that didn't work, so let's try this!  I sort of get it but I can honestly say I'm not particularly happy about it.  Will I ever be cancer free?!?!  That's the million dollar question.....there comes a time when you have to say ENOUGH!  I am certainly not that person that gives up easily so chances are I'll be back in chemo next week but we are still weighing the pros and cons so I will stay positive and continue doing my thing.....

With all that went on Wednesday I got no quilting done!!!  ...and Jonathan was working so I wasn't pleased to have lost my quilting time.  When I got home and settled in I was extremely tired so I didn't get much of anything done and Thursday Jonathan was off again so it was a hand piecing day.....

I continued working on The Farmer's Wife and this will be the last block in Row 12, which is slowly coming together.

 Block #107 - Windblown Square - 32 pieces

 First two blocks of Row 12 attached.

Block # 79 - Silver Lane - 40 pieces

It is an understatement to say I would like to just keep on going but that is just not feasible.  By the time I chose my fabrics, cut the needed templates and marked and cut the fabric, then hand pieced the last block - I could barely see straight.  I've been checking ahead and I've got one block that has no less than 57 pieces coming up, can't wait for that one.  Like I said, left all the difficult blocks to the end.  

Some of you may still be wondering why I chose to do this quilt by hand.  At times I wonder the same thing, however, I can honestly say that the accuracy has really become evident.  I have yet to have to stretch or ease any of the blocks to the sashing size.  They all fit perfectly and that is such a rewarding feeling.  I know that when I machine piece, I sometimes don't get an accurate 1/4" seam and there are times when I will have to square up my blocks or ease them into my quilt top.  This quilt is coming together beautifully. Would I do another one like this?  Maybe.  Once the top for The Farmer's Wife is completed, I will have Sandy baste it and I will be hand-quilting it so I have plenty of time to decide whether I would make a quilt this large again by hand.....

Okay, I really have to get what's left of my day going and get to work on that Yellow Brick Road.....

Have a great day everyone, and I will keep you posted!

Jo-Ann 

I am truly obsessed!!!!

The Farmer's Wife has become an obsession!  The past 3 weeks have kept me very busy.  I decided to change my strategy for completing this quilt and it has truly paid off.  I realized I had 4 blocks done that would complete the upper right hand corner of the quilt and so I decided to do the 5 missing blocks to complete that area.

First I worked on block 92 - Streak of Lightening (21 pieces) which went pretty quickly.

 The second block I worked on was block 38 - Four Winds (64 pieces) which took a little while.

 Block 47 - Homemaker (17 pieces) was the most difficult so far with a few Y seams as well as very tricky templates.  I had to do that one twice before I finally got it to work.

 The fifth block needed in order to finish off the 3 rows of the right upper corner was block 32 - Farmer's Daughter (33 pieces) went together like a breeze.

 After completing all the above blocks I added all the cornerstones and sashings and sewed the three rows together.  I am absolutely thrilled with the way it has come out.  It has served as great motivation to continue working.  

My new plan after completing those 5 blocks is to prepare a strip of sashing pieces and then go back and do 5 blocks in order that have not been done yet.  Now I am working on blocks 17, 18, 19, 22 and 24.  That will give me the first 26 blocks done which appear in different parts of the quilt.  I will then go back to working on the next row to add to the rows already done.  Hopefully this plan will keep me focused on the prize (as long as my ADD doesn't kick in!).

Block 17 - Cats & Mice (25 pieces) is done.

 Block 18 - Century of Progress (24 pieces) is also done.

I am almost finished block 19 and 22 and 24 are marked and cut and ready to go as soon as I finish 19.  I am pretty much on a roll and I am really enjoying doing the blocks.

Of the 111 blocks in the quilt I have completed 41 blocks.  That's just over a third of the blocks.  I'm hyped now - gotta get it done!!!! 

So, if you don't hear from me for a little bit you will know I have not fallen into the abyss!  I am hand piecing my Farmer's Wife........I am engrossed!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

On a roll......

It appears that I am obsessed currently with The Farmer's Wife.  Tonight I completed two more blocks.  I can't sit in front of the TV without doing something and so from about 8:00 P.M. until midnight I was hand piecing.  I completed Block #57 - Morning which I had started last night.

Block #57 - Morning

Then I also completed a second block tonight - Block #69 - Practical Orchard.  It was a very easy block with only 12 pieces.

Block #69 - Practical Orchard

That brings the total up to 27 blocks completed.  However, it now means that I have only 5 more blocks pre-cut.  I now need to re-think my strategy on this project.  I have fabric picked for 7 more blocks so I will have to start preparing those blocks - that should be Tuesdays.  Wednesdays I will piece, Thursdays I will pick more fabrics for more blocks, Fridays will be for piecing, Saturday night is hockey so I will be machine piecing or quilting and Sundays I will reserve for sashings and cornerstones.  This is my dream!!!!
(Trust me - it's a dream!)  I would love to stick to this grueling schedule but we all know - life happens and the best laid plans....etc.

This Friday is our No Machine Night - Sit & Sew at the store so I'll be bringing The Farmer's Wife to work on some preparation of blocks.

However, there does appear to be progress and in all honesty, although I will attempt to keep to this schedule, I know that it will be extremely difficult so we'll just take it one block at a time.....

I just got really excited because I finished 2 in one night!!!!  Totally motivated here!  It was that gorgeous Dear Jane that Anne has almost completed (on the Cock A Doodle Blog last week) that really got me motivated.

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Uh Oh.....

4 days off may be too long for me!  Day one went pretty good - I quilted a little, I slept a lot and I finally got 5 loads of laundry done!

Day 2 - I quilted a little and then, oh my gosh, then I got stuck into organizing and cleaning my bedroom.  I knew (have known for awhile) that I needed to do a bit of rearranging in order that when I sit and watch TV I am not idle, just sitting and doing nothing.  For most people this would take an hour or two but for me, with all my aches and pains and my quickness to tire, this took all day and night.  I was vacuuming at 2:30 A.M.....

I have this fabulous antique seaman's chest which can serve as a "coffee table"but was butted up against the foot board of the bed.  I just needed to figure out how to position it in the room so that it worked for me.  This way I can have the computer set-up and also have my Farmer's Wife handy for hand work while I watch TV.  It's been awhile since I've been able to work on those blocks.  I really just want a place where I can comfortably do hand work and watch TV and this configuration now seems to work.  Of course I had to move and sort through a bunch of bags full of projects.....

 My new workspace/TV area

This is what prompted THE LIST! (That's the uh oh!)  Okay, so there were some rules!  I could only LIST the stuff in the bags or on the floor, only the stuff that didn't have a "home".  That netted 9 (yup - NINE!) projects.    When I first moved in I took out my closet doors to make room for some storage and an extra dresser that I have.  Using those see through shoe boxes and other see through containers I stacked a bunch of ongoing projects in this area.  They are not on the list (I don't have enough paper for that!  ha,ha!)

My "little" storage area

So what did I find?!?!  I'm not sure I really want to share this - it kind of makes it official - the fact that I am addicted!!!!  Okay, maybe it's a step towards a cure?!?!  No, maybe not.  Well maybe it will keep me focused on all the "bright and shiny" objects I just found.  The funny part is, there isn't one of those nine projects that I would even consider abandoning.  That only goes to show you that I love quilting....  Maybe if I share I will be more apt to get them done....(then I can add the other 20 (approximately) projects lurking in the closet, oh and then there are the projects in the "actual" sewing area in the dining room - we are just not going there!!!!

Okay - so here goes (and don't say I never share!)

1 - Yellow Brick Road - Flannel -  In 2001 I purchased a kit for this on my way to visit my grandmother in New Jersey - It was at Patchwork & Pies in upstate New York.  I had it hidden away for years, all wrapped up.  I started it about a year ago when I was teaching Sharon, a newbie, and she wanted to do this pattern.  Unfortunately I didn't get very far.

2 - YHQG Charity Quilt - This is only one of many that I picked up at the guild.  There are others that I have in various other places.  One at a time, one at a time.  This is already started so it would be nice to get it finished.

3 - Underground Railroad Quilt - started back when we initiated the Underground Railroad Club - I was planning on doing it in both sizes.  I have done a few blocks in both sizes and again, it would be nice to have it done.

4 - Pandas - that one is actually pretty recent.  I wanted to do a sample for the store.  Now with the Pandas in Toronto I really want to finish it.

5 - Therapy In Session - definitely a recent one.  Wanted a sample for the store so I could bring some in to sell.  It's a pre-printed panel type thing and it's really cute.

6 - Farmer's Wife - this one is definitely ongoing!  Started in January 2010 and since it is being done by hand, I really have no definitive end date.  The fact that I keep working on it is already a good thing.  Slow and steady wins the race!  

7 - Country Haven - okay, this one was supposed to be a store sample that never got done.  It's a design by Kim Diehl which I fell in love with and really wanted to finish.  Mostly done and still worth finishing.  It was a free pattern on the Henry Glass website for her fabric line Country Haven.  Do you remember this one?  I still love it.....

8 - Florals of Provence - I bought all the fabrics for this wall hanging (Michael Miller fabrics - I think). It was one of my early shopping trips with my friend Dov in 2001.  We used to jump in the car on any Saturday and just travel all over southern Ontario hitting quilt stores.  This was purchased at The Quilt Patch in Oakville.

9 - Queen of Hearts - a Thimbleberries pattern and was supposed to be a sample for the store but unfortunately it never got completed.  Wow - way too many of these.  Really gotta focus.....

Okay so there are my first 9 that I am sharing....I'm thinking that as I finish one I may add another - the perpetual 9!!!!  Okay maybe not!

Since I am watching Republic of Doyle I think I'll break out the Farmer's Wife.....

Have a great day everyone....

Jo-Ann  

One down, one to go!

I'm sure you are all wondering where I disappeared to and what I have been up to.  If you also read the Cock A Doodle Blog then you know I've been surfacing from time to time but what have I been doing.....

First - my 9 patch blocks for the 9 patch exchange which I could not resist being apart of.  I've been a quilter for 12 years and have NEVER taken part in a "block exchange" so, since we are hosting it at the store I took advantage fo the opportunity.  I'm just finishing up my blocks for July and August - I figure if I stay ahead of the game I won't have to scramble to catch up.

Another project I have been working on is one that I looked forward to doing yet also dreaded and so has been preoccupying my time.  A couple of months ago this very lovely woman came in with two "quilt tops".  Someone had made them from her trousseau linens.  Although she had done an admirable job it seemed she wasn't familiar with the wrong side and the right side of embroidery.  A number of blocks had to be turned in order that the right side of the embroidery was on the right side of the quilt.  This job was turned over to me along with putting borders on the quilt tops.  After alot of procrastinating, for fear I would ruin the quilt top, I completed one this afternoon. 

It isn't often I have time to do this at the store but in the "dog days" of summer (pretty close with this humidity...) I can usually steal a few hours to work.  With a few customer interruptions and a load of determination I was planning on completing at least one of these gorgeous tops today.....and being a part of this heirloom experience.  Once the second one is done I will help the owner choose a long arm quilter and a quilt pattern for these remarkable quilts.

All of the embroidery was hand embroidered on pillowcases by her family members and given to her and her husband as wedding gifts.  What a keepsake to have and for generations to come - a fabulous idea!  Now that I've finished the one - the second one should be a lot easier.

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann