Patience!

Yesterday was Jonathan's day off so I spent a little time playing computer games and then decided to get out of his way and headed for my private haven and my hand quilting.  Wasn't sure I'd get anything done but I surprised myself -

Block 72 - Railroad - 28 pieces

I also managed to complete Row # 15, the lower left hand corner of the quilt top.  I will now work up from that point - I'm getting excited here, I have 6 more rows to complete the quilt top and only about 20 blocks that haven't been pieced....getting there....

Bottom left hand corner - Row # 15

Today started out very early, around 5:55 A.M. when I had to wake Jonathan for work because he couldn't charge his phone last night.  Worked out well because it's about the time I need to take a pill.  Back to bed until around 10:30 and then realized today is the day I get to machine quilt!!!  YEAH!

As soon as I did my crossword and had my brunch I set everything up, including the big ironing board.  I pulled out Bricks and Mortar and saw another mistake.  No problem, I can fix it - so I start unsewing.  Well, I only managed to totally mess it up and spent the first hour just fixing what I messed up......patience, another new "buzz" word for 2014!  Don't think I didn't contemplate, yet again, giving up on this quilt but determination is the name of the game.....

By 2:00 P.M. I had put on two more rows -

2 rows on - up to 4 rows, only two more to go

Liz called to say she was going to come over with some hand sewing.  Now, I have to say I was more than excited.....  I know that's weird, but you have to understand - First, I am home alone most of the time and I really do love company, but more importantly, Second - When Liz and I get together it's usually to go to a doctor's appointment, or chemo or out to run errands, we don't often get to just sit & sew and enjoy each others company.  I was really looking forward to this visit.  She came around 3:15 P.M. and stayed for about 3 hours while I got the last two rows together and added them to the quilt....

 Quilt center done - now the borders......

Liz was all packed up and just getting ready to leave so I got a quick pic

Liz had just been so supportive the past 7 months (longer when you include the store hours she put in), always there to take me to appointments and sit with me through the tough stuff....good news, bad news, all of it.  It was so nice to sit like two normal girlfriends and just chat and sew....what a treat!  I hope we do it more often- I really enjoyed this afternoon.

Now, back to the quilt!  She left me at an extremely crucial (appropriate) moment.  Here's the problem.  This is what happens when you return to those U.F.O.'s, the "oops" moment. I know I am not the only one who has this problem.  

The first border is pieced in 2-1/2" squares of which I needed 114.  I wasn't sure I had enough fabric!?!?!  Sure didn't look like it!  Turns out, after I worked it out mathematically (took 20 minutes) I would be able to squeak out 115 squares.  Of course I had to do quite a bit of fudging the blocks to make it work properly and the darker squares met up at the corners but by 8:00 P.M. I had the top and bottom border on.

Top and bottom borders

It was the side borders I really had to fudge, that took awhile, a little unsewing and resewing and voila - sides were on......

All four borders on - Yahoo!

Tomorrow Jonathan is off so I can relax and forget the mathematics because the outside border is also pieced and I really think that I am going to be short for sure.  However, after all is said in done, I really love this quilt!  I really like the pattern and did not expect it to turn out this nicely.....I even have a quilting plan!  I love it when that happens.  This will all have to wait until Saturday when I go back to figuring out if I have enough fabric to do the outside border....we can only hope....I can't wait to complete this quilt because I have another one waiting in the wings (my project bag) that I am really antsy to get to.

Tomorrow I will get to work on the Farmer's Wife and hopefully get a few more blocks done as well as a couple of rows.  I am definitely on a roll here and am extremely excited about the progress.  It's been such a long time since I've been able to say that....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Feeling the love.....

I don't know what to say!  I attended the Etobicoke Quilters' Guild meeting on Monday night as a new member.  The warm welcome I received, the hugs and good wishes were just overwhelming.  I have to say that I truly feel the "love"!!!!  I am really looking forward to being a part of this wonderful group of quilters.  I also hope to be able to take advantage of Studio C on upcoming Mondays and Wednesdays and also participating in Workshops and Retreats.  

The most wonderful thing I took away from the meeting was the motivation!  Although my health issues are taking their toll on what I can physically accomplish, I still want to get back to the place where I can begin to complete the numerous projects I have waiting in the wings.  Some of them have been put aside because they truly had no destination.  However, Comfort Quilts seem like a great destination, so I am about to go through all of those UFO's and see what can be completed and donated.  It's wonderful to know that our work is needed in the community and I can't wait to get them completed.

I am finally somewhat back on track with my Farmers' Wife project and have completed another block.

 Block # 52 - Hovering Hawks - 24 pieces

This block was needed to complete the next row which I have been working on.  You can see it, it's the 6th block from the top.  I need 3 more blocks to complete this row, one of which I still have to piece.  Then I can attach it to my growing quilt top.....

I am still enjoying the relaxation of the hand piecing as well as the prep work required to do each of the blocks.

Jonathan's friend Theo came by on Saturday night and made us another gourmet meal.  He had been over a couple of weeks ago and I forgot to take a picture of that amazing meal but this time I stopped to take a photo before I dug in......

A perfectly cooked burger with all the accompaniments.  I could only manage to eat 1/2 the burger but it was absolutely outstanding.....he's quite talented.

I certainly haven't been doing much cooking these days.  First because I find it hard to even decide what I want to eat and then it becomes too much trouble.  I haven't been very excited about food lately.  I think it's a side effect of all the drugs, etc. and there's the energy that it takes to actually do anything.  I'd rather save it for other stuff that I enjoy.....

Time for me to get back to my quilting so....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

29 and counting.......

So far I seem to be continuing my Farmer's Wife obsession.  After choosing fabrics last Thursday I took some prep work to do on Friday night at the "No Machine" Sit & Sew.  Admittedly I didn't get too much done that night and Saturday night I watched the hockey game (and slept through the 2nd period, only to wake up to a 4-1 loss for the Leafs).  Sunday I spent the day piecing by machine and enjoying a visit from friends and Sunday night I started doing some sashing and cornerstones - below is Block 1 - Attic Window with 4 sides of sashing and cornerstones....

 Attic Window - Block 1 

I realized that Block 6 was complete and appears below Block 1 in the quilt so....I did the attachment of Block 6 - Big Dipper to Block 1 -along with the setting triangle for this row....it's so exciting to see them start to fit together, even if it is only 2 blocks.

 Block 6 - Big Dipper attached to Block 1 - Attic Window and sashed....

Since I had already completed Block 2 - Autumn TInts, I decided to do the side sashings getting the block ready to be attached to something.

 Block 2 - Autumn Tints with sashing

That was all for Sunday night, but I was impressed with myself.  Last night I really outdid myself and completed Block 3 - Basket and Block 5 - Bat Wings.....That puts me at 29 blocks done. (Only 82 to go....)  If I keep up the pace I could actually get this done in about 5 years......maybe a few days sooner!  Here's hoping!

 Block 3 - Basket                                       Block 5 - Bat Wings

Tonight I sorted all the blocks again and completed prepping and cutting Block 7 - Birds In The Air - 40 pieces.  Seemed like it took forever but some of these blocks have a lot of small pieces.  I now have 6 blocks ready to piece.  Tomorrow night is a piecing night for me so we'll see what I can accomplish!   

Block 7 - Birds In The Air

Of course, once the newsletter goes out and everyone starts signing up for those evening classes my plan goes to pot!!!!  Oh well, like I said - 5 years!  I'm okay with that and I am truly enjoying doing the hand work, it's relaxing, rewarding and just a complete joy to look forward to at the end of the day.

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

Finally.....

Some days I just can't get it right!  Actually today was fabulous in terms of quilting.  I got three rows together in my Nine by Twelve pattern and 3 blocks for Amish With A Twist, along with more blocks for my Radical Rail quilt.  However, when it came to my hand-piecing I wasn't doing so well.

For some reason I thought I could put the block together while looking at the pattern upside down.....duh!  At any rate, I finally figured it out, so while watching the Season Finale of Republic of Doyle I managed to fix my mistakes and get it right.....

Block 56 - Maple Leaf

I am now up to 25 blocks of 111.  It's starting to look like I may shave a couple of years of that 11 I predicted just recently.  The next one is Block 57 - Morning - it has 37 pieces so it may take awhile but I think I'll start it tonight and depending on what's on TV tomorrow night, I might get it done.

Tomorrow I really have to get that new newsletter on its way to completion.  All the dates are set, it's just a matter of getting it into the format of a newsletter.  Wish me luck, it's always a big undertaking but it is my first priority for tomorrow....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Amish With A Twist and more.......

First I promised to post some pics from the "fairy tale" wedding......  Sara and Vince were married Saturday April 6, 2013 at Hazelton Manor.  It was an absolutely fabulous wedding.....

Sara Tamar Saitowitz and Vincenzo La Curto

(now Sara and Vincenzo La Curto)

 The first dance as man and wife

He sang to her - it was beautiful......

Now back to real life!  It took me two days to recuperate!!!!  I'm back on Amish With A Twist and also Radical Rail.  Since I am doing continuous piecing as I'm working on Amish, I am also making the blocks for Radical - I have completed a litte more than one third of the Radical just by using the blocks as my "leaders and enders".  It really gives you a great feeling of accomplishment - it's like a 2 for 1!

The kids are in the Bahamas for the next two weeks soaking up the sun (missing this lovely weather we're expecting) so until they return I have time to play by the sewing machine on all my projects.  There will be a wedding quilt expected in the somewhat near future!  I'm not really great with those projects, I get distracted, I already owe one wedding quilt which I need to complete....Gotta make time for all of this too!!!!

No - I will not add either of them to the list right now!  I will wait a little longer, right now I am seriously concentrating on Amish With A Twist and Radical Rail.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann  

Getting things done.....

I spent the day at the store signing up for all kinds of social media - ugh!  Not really but it's a lot of work to keep up with all this internet stuff!  Who knew!?!?!

At home I'm stealing moments (between and during my TV shows) quilting or like this morning before I left for work I managed to get part of Block 4 done (Amish With A Twist), finished it when I got home.

I'm curious, "What kind of quilter are you?" I'd love it if you comment here, it's kind of a little survey.

I have been working on Amish With A Twist (as per www.cockadoodlequilts.blogspot.com)    but I like to do continuous piecing.  Since I'm working on one block at a time, continuous piecing doesn't quite work, unless you add another project and it's not like I don't have a few projects to work on (haven't touched the infamous 9 yet!).  I finished my serging of my Radical Rail Fence blocks (144) on Monday morning, so I figured why not.....

So far I have 8 blocks done - that's probably about 1/4 of the quilt top.  I'm thrilled, especially since I've been working on (not working on, meaning to be working on) this quilt for 6 years approximately.  Seriously, I started it in 2007, Barb will verify that since she cut all the homespun strips for me....

It feels good to be getting two things done at once, slows things down just a tad but it;s worth it.  Oh and do I make mistakes - yup!  Believe it or not I actually had to "unsew" three Rail Fence blocks because I sewed them together wrong - don't ask!  I couldn't have picked an easier project, a real no brainer, I mean I don't even have to match up blocks here but I still managed to get a few wrong.  It's all fixed now so I can continue, hopefully without making to many more mistakes....

Just have to focus!  Tomorrow, I am teaching hand piecing/quilting in the a.m. and Linda's coming in to work on her O Tennanbaum quilt which she was working on today, so it's going to be quite a busy day.....

Saturday is my god daughter's wedding - and Jonathan, as usual, has no clothes ready to wear so I'm not sure how we are going to rectify that new emergency, but we will!  Guess I have to find a Same Day cleaner near us, or near the store.  Gotta love the drama!

Sunday is the monthly Sit & Sew for the girls!   4 days off and right back into the fray!  Gotta get a newsletter done too!  That's the agenda.....never a dull moment!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann  

Next on the home front......

Besides cleaning and laundry which definitely are screaming out to be done, there are all these bags and boxes of stuff!!!!  Okay, okay they are UFO's!!!  So I came across this box that has been to the store, back to the house, to the store, to the house!  Oh my gosh - it is the travelling box.  How long has it been travelling?  Well, Barb could tell you because she cut all of the strips I used to make up the blocks.....in 2007 I believe!

Look - I had a plan!  Really I did!  I was inspired by a quilt I had seen in a magazine and patterns which Sandy Lindal had written.  I wanted to combine her methods with my quilt idea and I had gotten a decent start on it but you know how it goes - life happens, got busy and it kept getting put aside.  It has now been officially (or maybe unofficially) resurrected.  

The original box - which was full

The blocks and strips all ready to go

Sergio (the serger) is going to be put into service.  This is all part of this great quilt project.  I'm really getting excited about it and got quite a bit of work done on it tonight. I will, hopefully keep working on it this week and start getting it put together so you can see the effect soon.

It is done with mainly homespuns.  Most of them are stripes or plaids and the quilt will eventually be for Jonathan.  I love homespuns!  They really fit into any decor - country, modern, eclectic....  They have a way of really warming up a space.  I'm not sure what size this is going to be but the plan is to use all of the blocks, cut at 6-1/2".  

I am going to write a pattern once the quilt is done so I'll keep you posted when it will appear in the store.

This weekend, however, is designated for Amish With A Twist!  I have 4 days - Friday to Monday - and my plan is to get this quilt top done!  It is going to be gorgeous!

Amish With A Twist

I am really looking forward to a weekend of laundry (not really!), cleaning (ugh!) and quilting (YAHOO!)  If I'm feeling generous - I will share my progress!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

More, more, more.....

As I mentioned on Thursday, I needed to stitch.  It is where I go mentally when I need to think or not think, depending on the project.  It relaxes me when I have mindless stitching  to do and it fills my mind when I have to think about what I am doing....either way, it's great therapy.

I went home Thursday night and decided to "skip" that hard block I was having trouble with and move on to something I could enjoy.  Block #48 - Homeward Bound, is done.

Block 48 - Homeward Bound

I feel this great sense of accomplishment every time another block goes into the book completed.  I can't believe I let this project sit idle for so long - I'm enjoying it immensely.  I believe I dropped the ball in 2011, although I did do a lot of cutting back then and am reaping the rewards of that work by just sitting down to stitch the blocks that have already been cut.  Once I started chemo-therapy I develop neuropathy in my hands and feet and was unable to feel my fingers for quite some time.  My fingers are now much better and I believe my feet are also improving but it has been a long road.  At the rate I am stitching I will have to soon start cutting again - no complaints, it is progress in a good way.

Last night was a whole other accomplishment.  I did not get to work on the Farmer's Wife - I worked on the Urbans.  When I taught the two classes last week I started a new Urban Pods and also an Urban Nine Patch.  I needed to calculate how much fabric was still needed to complete these two quilt tops as well as start the Urban Holiday quilt.  Since we close at 8:00 P.M. on Fridays I decided it would be a good evening to spend cutting and counting and it worked out great.  So expect to see some completed tops in the very near future.

I really am happiest when I'm busy.....speaking of which, an e-mail to all of my fabulous customers to go out about February's Calendar and I know there's some other stuff I need to get done paperwork wise and then MORE STITCHING!!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann  

Idle hands....

Just so you won't think I have been idle for the past few days - I finished Block # 44 - Gentleman's Fancy on Monday night.  This is definitely one of my favourite blocks -went together very quickly.  Would consider doing a quilt of this block.....

Block #44 - Gentleman's Fancy

I started another block Monday night but have been having trouble with it and have had to take it out a few times already.  Worked diligently on it Monday night and Tuesday night but have still not finished it....

Last night I did nothing "quilty" at all.  It was a very sad day and I guess I just needed to sit back and reflect.  I have two extremely close friends, Mucie and Dov, whom I've known for over 40 years now.  We are like family - I am godmother to both of their children, Oren and Sarah Tamar and they are Jonathan's godparents.  Last Sunday at 11:15 a.m.,Dov's mother passed away.  As is our religious tradition, she was buried on Monday.  I had Mary come in to the store and I managed to get to the funeral.  Of course there were many people there whom I never see being so busy at the store, and we all parted saying we would meet again in April (Sarah's wedding day).

On Tuesday evening I received a call from Mucie telling me that Dov's father had passed at 11:17 a.m. that morning, the funeral was yesterday afternoon.  To say we were all in shock was an understatement!  Jesse and Sam were married for 68 years and spent their last days at Baycrest, Sam suffering from dymensia and Jesse needing a little extra care.  Jesse always wondered whether in the last few years if Sam knew she was there for him.  Well, I would have to say that not only did he know that she was there but that he did her the honour of allowing her to leave first so that she would not suffer his loss.  In fact, I believe that once she reached her destination, she prepared her new space and then called him to her.  They were inseparable in life and so it should be that they be inseparable in death.  They were laid to rest side by side and we can all take solace in the belief that they are joined hand in hand looking down on us, free from any pain and suffering.

As we all know this does not relieve the suffering of the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren left behind but we have been on our own for many years and will continue our day to day activities, every once in awhile wanting to share our days with our parents.  We have been blessed to be a generation whom with medical technology has had the opportunity to enjoy our parents who have lived to their 80's, 90's and beyond.

For me personally, Jesse and Sam, were the last of my "family's" elders to pass so I find this particularly sad.  When my uncle passed in August 2010 and then my mother in September of the same year I had no time to grieve.  I was busy with the store and it was just before my health issues became evident.....I will now take the time to grieve, for Jesse, for Sam, for my mother, for my uncle.  It is time! 

Tonight I will go home and hopefully go back to my quilting - it is both relaxing and soothing (although that block that I am working on is extremely frustrating - I may just put it aside for now).  I need something that is mindless.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann   

Pleasantly surprised!

If you've already read the "store" blog then I've taken up too much of your time today and I would much rather you be quilting then just reading about quilting.....After all, it is what I wish for myself!  To have more time to quilt.

Last Tuesday I started teaching the Hand Piecing/Quilting class to two lovely women and in an effort to inspire I decided to bring along my Farmer's Wife binder.  Certainly it was an inspiration for these ladies but it also turned out to be the motivation I needed to commence work on this, somewhat overwhelming, project.  I finished Block 25 - Cups and Saucers the very next day (33 pieces).  I am now working on Block 26, hopefully to have it completed shortly.

This past Tuesday (the 22nd), I had the pleasure of teaching the Quick Curve Ruler technique in the Urban Pods class.  If you saw the store blog then you saw the Urban Pods quilt I completed (still needs a small top and bottom border) but since I was teaching the technique rather than a specific quilt pattern, I allowed each student to choose their pattern and I had two that chose the Urban Nine Patch.  I had to try a block and make sure the instructions were clear and now I only need to do another 24 of these blocks to finish the quilt.  I am so pleased with this block, I really can't wait to get the other 24 done!

As you can see I am really keeping busy and I have a huge list of outstanding projects, etc. that need to be addressed.  I am trying to stay focused on that list and even keep moving in an orderly fashion towards completing all these projects.  Of course, there are always those "priorities" that suddenly crop up and have to be looked after (like a mystery quilt I have to have ready for March 30th), but, if I stick to my list I think I can actually accomplish something.

Wish me luck and I'll be sure to post my progress as it goes.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

It can't be.....

I can't believe it's been that long since I posted anything on "my blog"!!!  It's not like I haven't been working on anything or doing something?!!!  Hmmm - maybe I fell asleep for a month!

Anyway - I did want to share my latest project - soon to be a pattern and a kit at Cock-A-Doodle Quilts.

Sometimes it's a fabric that inspires the design and in this case that was exactly what happened.  These little sheep had been living in the store for awhile and could not find a place to go so I thought I would find them a home - so here they are frolicking in between pink sashings and white cornerstones -

 As you can see they are cute little things and I've marked the quilt squares with hearts to quilt.......

 I managed to layer and pin this afternoon, yes pin!  Okay - you want to know why I don't spray baste a small quilt like this - the quilt measures around 42" x 48".  I have used spray baste in the past for small quilts but honestly I don't feel I have control of all three layers when I spray baste.  With pinning I am able to manipulate all three layers or if necessary one layer at a time to make sure there is no bunching on the back of the quilt.  I find once it's sprayed it is hard to move the fabrics when they or if they start to bunch!  May be just me but I feel more in control this way....

 I have also picked out some really cool variagated Mettler thread - 4820-9912 which appears to be a pink - white - grey/green and should look awesome on the quilt......

Now if I can keep my eyes open when I get home I may get started on the quilting tonight.  That would be nice.

I had three days off this week and all I did was sleep and read and sleep and knit and sleep and read......you get the picture!  I know I needed it and finally I am no longer suffering from chronic sciatica but I really feel like I accomplished nothing so on Thursday night when I came home and whipped this little baby quilt up I had to wonder why I can't be more like that more often!  Not too sure what the answer is there except that my energy levels appear to be very sporadic!

Looking forward to tomorrow (day-off) and Tuesday (day-off) and I'm putting no pressure on myself to get anything done!  Work at my own pace and take it slow - slow and steady win the race!  Oh forget it!  Seriously - would like a hit of adrenaline about twice a day to get everything done that is on my mind (or list) each day!

Okay - off to get another coffee (doesn't help) and then home!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

I am baffled......

First things first - just a funny little story I thought you might all enjoy.  There are pros and cons to writing two separate blogs!  The pros are that the store blog (Cock A Doodle Quilts) deals mainly with things going on in the store or things about the store, and the "personal" blog is a little more casual and includes just "stuff" about what I am up to including projects and samples I do for the store.  The cons are - I can very easily mix things up, because I am ME of course.  The other day I was writing away on the "store" blog, talking about new stuff and things that are happening at the store - when I went to "labels" to chose my subjects for the day I realized I was in the wrong blog, UGH!  Luckily, it turned out to be a learning experience.  I figured out how to copy and paste what I had written from one blog to the other - lost the pictures and had to reload them but that was just a small glitch in what could have been a huge time waster for me!!!!  I also think that I may have learned to be a little more aware of where I am!  Phewww!

I like writing the two blogs because on this one I feel I can be more candid with my readers and so now I will tell you why I am baffled, or maybe I'm dyslexic.....not really sure!  If you read the "Doodle" blog yesterday then you know I spent Friday night - unstitching  my Lithia Park.  Why - well here's the picture of the quilt -

You can see the pattern and how the flowers point in at each other, well somehow I had a whole row pointing in the opposite directions - DUH!  I mean how do you not see that?!?!  It's a good thing Cathie noticed before I put my borders on because I seriously did not see the problem....okay, must be dyslexia or something!  I was hoping to get it fixed today and get the borders on so it could go in the quilt pile, but, alas......

I had other things I wanted to do also!!!!  Like finish my Urban Pods quilt top.  It is here we hit (BIG BRICK WALL!!!) the next reason for the bafflement!!!!  First, about two rows into the quilt top I realized I had mixed up the colours, so the grey is where the white should be and the white is where the grey should be.  Okay, no big deal - it still works with the pattern and it still looks good, so I wasn't going to go and re-cut all that fabric - I mean, seriously, what a waste.  Then, I had half the quilt top done and even had it displayed in the store yesterday with the Quick Curve Rulers and the really cool patterns and in all honesty no one else noticed the MISTAKE either!!!  Of course, it was only half a quilt so I guess I can understand somewhat why no one would really notice.

Let me set the stage for the EUREKA moment....When I originally cut the curves for the quilt I made a little mistake and needed to cut an extra strip.  I am at the point in the making of the blocks where I needed that extra strip, so I sat down to cut them.  At the same time I had a really good look at the pattern......the one below....

 Note that the images appear to be hourglass shaped until you hit the centre of the quilt where they turn upside down.  Guess, just guess what I did!  I had sewn them together in the hourglass shape all the way down - DUH!  This quilt is sewn in vertical strips UGH!  However, I was able to take out the 3 segments across because my seams matched so well - that's a good thing!!!  So I just spent the last 45 minutes unstitching yet again!!  Admittedly I have been a little preoccupied of late - what with the store moving and all that but still!!!! 

 

I am off to fix up the mistake and continue as if nothing was wrong - yet again!!!  Hopefully I will waste no more time on these dumb screw ups and just get on with the important stuff.

 

By the way - I started on the newsletter today so another day or two and we will have an idea as to what we'll be doing for the next few months.....hope you will all be joining me!

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

Jo-Ann

 

 

Shifting.....

It's that scary thing you do when you are trying to organize!  Yesterday when Rita was my legs and I was sorting all the "stuff" for Gillian to take to her church rummage sale and to drop at Value Village I had this horrible thought that I was just shifting the "stuff" from one spot to another.

I've set my mind at ease now because I know that anything that moved from the back to the front actually has to be at the front, whether there's room for it, well that's a whole other story.  There's still alot to do but it appears to be slowly moving in the right direction.

On Friday afternoon, after everything had been moved from the old "Doodle" to the new "Doodle" I sat in the chair by the books and picked up the phone to call my mom!!!!  I realized it had been just over two years since she passed away and I also realized how much I miss her!  I had a moment - she would have been so excited for me!  Needless to say I had a long conversation with her - and it's not long distance, and it sure helps!

My mom used to have a saying "Oh, my achin' back!"  It was something she used when she was overwhelmed or something crazy was happening.  When I said it yesterday - I meant it - my back really is aching!  Along with every other inch of my body!  The reward is that it will all be worth it in the end!!!!

I'm off to the store again to continue the "madness" and ruthlessly go through every single thing.  It's like that program "Hoarders" - it's almost laughable!!!!  But seriously - I am so limited for space that I have to really be ruthless!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann 

I can't.....

I can't quilt!  I really, really want to but I just can't!  I look longingly over to the dining room table at Sonia (my Janome), at Bernice - Bernie for short (my Bernina) and at Sergio (my Janome serger) but I know I just can't do it!!!!

I am so exhausted from moving the store that I just know if I touch anything I will mess it up!  There will be plenty of time to quilt soon enough!!!!

Better I should take a long hot shower and go to bed!!!  Good night all!!!

Have a great day everyone.

Jo-Ann

At home....

I was so excited on Wednesday night when I finished sewing the last flower center onto my last small Lithia Park block - now I could get the borders on!  I laid it out on the bed and found "THE MISTAKE"!  I know it's not just me, we all do it and of course everything went downhill from there.  I started the unstitching to attempt the "quick fix", sewed it back together and really messed it up.  At that point I decided that this would need to wait for a time when cooler heads prevailed.....and into the "pile" it went!  You know the pile I'm talking about - you all have one too - I know you do!!!

So it sat in the pile and on Thursday night when I got home I busied myself with many other things and ignored "the pile" - I did say, cooler heads right!  (I was still very angry with that quilt top for not co-operating)....

Last night when I got home it was about 9:00 P.M. and I thought I could ignore the quilt a little longer but, alas, I really love that quilt and so with a cooler head I sat down and unsstitched again and fiddled and finagled until I got the centre of the quilt done - it only took a couple of hours as I also had to add the last row of the centre blocks which was what alerted me to the original mistake!  Now I only have the borders to put on and the top will be done...and then I will decide on a backing and binding, prepare the backing and binding, layer the quilt and put it in "THAT PILE" - you know the pile, the one where the quilts go that are ready to be quilted!!!!  They line up like little soldiers there on that pile, saluting as I pass by them, mocking me for my stubborn insistence that I will quilt them all myself.  Little do they know that I have a plan now!  I've always had a plan, I just never shared it with "the pile"!  My plan is to work simultaneously on my "to be quilted pile", my "to be machine pieced pile" and my "to be hand pieced or appliqued pile".....What???  That only requires 6 hands at once!  Where is the problem here?  Okay, so you are asking yourselves - how is she doing this?  (I also have knitting I'm working on!!!  A charity cancer shawl and a sock!)  Let me explain - I've got a plan!!!!

I usually make it home from the store by about 6:30 so I grab a quick dinner and from 7:00-8:00 P.M. I can quilt or piece and from 8:00-9:00 P.M. I can quilt or piece.  From 9:00-Midnite I can do my hand-piecing or applique work.  See - I have a plan!  Of course we all know about - "best laid plans"  but it's more of a guideline kind of thing!  Of course, there are still all those projects waiting to be started and that's another PILE!!!! 

Okay, that's enough for today - I am toying with the idea of starting a UFO Club at the store - you know, the kind where you have to DECLARE your UFO'S and then bring them to work on with maybe a compulsory Show & Share each week/month....Like I said I am toying with the idea!!!  Would you join - comments are more than welcome!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann