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

 

 

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

Phew.....

Talk about a productive evening....Last night I was like the old "energizer bunny"!  When I got home, I made a quick dinner and then got right down to work.

First I completed my September and October 9 Patch exchange blocks.....

Then I started cutting for a new store sample and worked until about 9:00 P.M. on that....you'll have to wait and see more later on that one.

At 9:00 P.M. I decided I wanted to get down to some serious TV watching - Thursday is definitely my night for TV - Grey's Anatomy, Elementary, Last Resort, Person of Interest and last but not least Scandal.  Thank heavens for time-shifting.

On Wednesday night I had used up the last of my Soft Fuse so the project I had started working on could not be completed until I brought home some Wonder Under (second choice).  I dug this up out of my stash, I had bought the kit when I was on a retreat in Pennsylvania at Critter Pattern Works back in 2001 but it really seems appropriate now and will probably segue into a machine applique class.

With the Pandas coming to the Toronto Zoo I thought the timing was good so I started making up all the applique on Wednesday night while watching TV - only had two pieces left to do last night and then needed to put on all the markings and adhere everything to backgrounds......here they are -

All ready to do the outlining with the machine......here are the individual patterns!  They are all so cute!  I marked them all and placed them and then during commercial breaks, went out to the ironing board to set them in place.  Worked out great!

All of the fabrics were included in the kit which was amazing but I think I will still be adding some of my own fabrics for the bamboo bits around the edges, also I'm not sure there is enough to do the border and I will, of course, have to find a binding and a backing....

Debbie at Critter Pattern Works has a great tutorial on her website for her machine applique method so I will practice a bit before I tackle the edgings.  It's been awhile since I did one of her patterns.....will post my progress!

Tonight is Sit & Sew - NO MACHINES ALLOWED night and it's going to be a crowd....gotta go start dinner!  I am going to try to get the last 4 blocks of my Lithia Park done and maybe work on some blanket stitching on one of my Lori Smith patterns....will post pictures later.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

Sew she grows!

The newsletter is out, classes are filling up and I still find myself short about 10 hours a day.  I had two days off this past weekend and did NOTHING!  I mean nothing!  I've been told that it was probably what I needed but still I felt guilty...with so much to do and so many projects on the go,  I really felt like I should have done something, anything, to keep up with myself.

I guess I gauge my output by my quilting which is probably not fair.  However, truth be told Rich and I managed to get quite a load of stuff out of the storage unit over the past week.  We want to give up the space and so now the boxes from the basement (from the townhouse and the last move) are finally being dealt with.  It's amazing what I've found, and to think all the stuff that was left behind.

Tuesday I worked at the store and came home to work on more boxes but I also managed to work on Lithia Park - there are 12 blocks sewn together with sashings!  It's slowly growing and since tomorrow night is "Don't bring your machine a.k.a. Applique Club" at the store I will be able to work on the last 2-1/2 blocks for the centre.  Here's what it looks like so far.....

 Lithia Park - 12 blocks and growing.....

It's  funny how when I work all day I can come home and just keep going but when I'm home for the day - I get nothing done!  At any rate I had to progress on this project in order to make room for my next project which is my 9 Patch Exchange blocks.

When I had my sewing room in the house this would not have been an issue as I just would have relocated the Lithia Park project but in the apartment I have limited space available so I really have to be more organized.  Don't get me wrong, my quilting is spread out throughout the apartment but because I share the living/dining room with Jonathan, I have to make sure I don't leave things lying around where they can be misplaced or moved.  A little frustrating but it works because I seem to move forward on projects faster.

So, I chose some fabrics for my first 4 blocks for the exchange.

 Fabrics for April (yes I'm behind) and May blocks.....

This gave me the opportunity to try out a few new products we have in the store.  When it was suggested that we host the 9 Patch Exchange, I was alerted to some great products that would insure accuracy in piecing these blocks.  So - I will try to take you through the process step by step here.

 First, a product called Cutting Edge....plastic strips that mark the underside of the ruler.

 The blocks are 3-1/2" blocks so I needed to mark the 1-1/2" on the rulers underside.

First I straighten the fabric....

 Then I butt the straightened edge along the plastic strips marked at 1-1/2" - and cut my strips.

 Fabric one, then fabric two.....

 Check out the markings, perfect 1-1/2" strips.....now we move to the sewing machine.

 The next product is called sewing edge!  (You can use a few layers of painters tape here instead)

 I take my 3-1/2" ruler and with my needle measure the 1/4" on my machine - then adhere a strip of the sewing edge tape which is about a 1/16" of an inch thick.

 You can cut these tapes but I chose to mark the machine and the table giving me a longer edge.  Then I stitched my first strip.

 Check the perfect 1/4" seam - I was thrilled!  So far, so good!

 The blocks worked out to exactly 3-1/2" - Voila - precision piecing!  To see my pinning method - look up Molly's Meadow on this blog - I give a demo there.

...and my second set of perfect 3-1/2" blocks!

I'm going to try posting this to the Cock A Doodle Quilt blog as a Tutorial Page shortly so you can refer back to it.  Hopefully I will be able to do it - I'm so not a techie!  FYI - you can use painters tape to do either of these things but I have to say I love the ease of these two products and they are both reusable and very accurate.....  

I've also been pretty busy designing quilts - a new mystery quilt for August and a Charm Square quilt as well as a quilt to use up my 9 Patch Exchange blocks.

Okay time for bed - a little reading, then some much needed sleep!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann  

...

Looking forward....

...to getting home tonight so I can work on something I haven't been able to work on for months.  I have a top to complete on my machine and I did want to layer my Amish Shadow but I also thought I might get some time to spend on Lithia Park.

Part of it is done so I'll just be adding blocks but I'd really like to get some of it done.  So like - how many hours are in a day, 'cuz I thought I might work on the newsletter and add a new design to last week's mystery quilt.....ugh!

Okay want to make it home before the skies open up so.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

I'm hooked!

Popeye's Chicken!  Yup - I love it!  Every once in awhile I get this craving for KFC, so last week I broke down and ordered it - it's been awhile.  It was absolutely awful and to top it off, it came from a different location because the location near us has closed. 

Last week Rich and I went to Costco and Walmart to pick up some stuff and the Walmart on St. Clair is right next to a Popeye's Chicken,  Rich raves about it and Nancy mentioned it a couple of weeks ago so I said - let's pick some up ---- oh my, how delicious!  Loved it so much that Nancy and I had it last Thursday night for dinner too!  I've had my fill for now but honestly - it really is good chicken!!!!

Back to quilting - all my leaves are done on Lithia Park - finished last night while watching a little TV - now the flowers.....

Today, being my only day off this week, I've been busy, busy, busy!  First thing was to take photos of all the stuff I'm selling that is upstairs -

The DVD/Video Player $30.00

The Wing Chair - Green Plaid $150.00

The Classic 3 Seater Sofa - $250.00

The Sleigh Bed/Matress and Box Spring + 2 Night tables $500.00

The Cottage Clock - $30.00

 The Cottage Night Light - $30.00 - the tent lights up, it's one of those cool things I couldn't pass up when I saw it!!!!

Most of it has already been posted on Kijiji but I know I'm not finished yet!  After that I folded laundry and cleaned the bathroom, took a shower and dressed! 

We're packing again, downsizing!  So I'm really trying to get everything in order so there will be very little to move.  Stuff has to go to the store (no fabric - lol!  That's all mine!!!)
and I have to repack everything I packed up last year at this time......de ja vu!!!  As much as I love the townhouse, it's just too much for me!  Too many stairs, too much house to keep clean and it's also really pricey when you consider how much time I actually spend at home......

I've been doing alot of reevaluatiing after what I've just been through and when I think about what I want going forward, because now I can look forward.....just a little space to come home to, a place where I can quilt, a cozy little spot to call my own!!!  Well - rent as my own!!!  I'm going to see a two bedroom apartment the end of the week and hopefully it will be our next home.....aside from the moving part, I'm actually looking forward to it!  This way, if Jonathan ever moves out I'll have a designated sewing room, but up until then the dining room and possibly my bedroom will have to do!!!!  

Okay - gotta get back to work, I want to get the borders done on my Trip Back In Time and maybe even get some quilting done tonight on another project that is long overdue.....

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann 

...and what did I do with "them"????

So all those half square triangles are going to become "Trip Back In Time" - do you love it!

It's not actually done yet - it's up on the design wall in pieces!  I was hoping to get the center of the top done (sans borders) but things got a little hectic at the store with Healing Heroes and the Pot Luck (check the Cock A Doodle Blog)!

I need to take it off the design wall because my Sunday group is coming in tomorrow but I will do it in the morning....right now I just get to sit back and admire it!  I know I shouldn't be showing off "patterns" I'm actually planning on publishing but we're also planning on kitting this at the store and this is my personal blog so I feel I can trust you guys to keep this under wraps - it should be done shortly!

I am seriously trying to blog more often but it's hard getting computer time when I'm home except in the morning and as most of you know - I am not a morning person!  By the time I get home at night and I get the computer I usually just feel like collapsing into bed!  I'm "good" tired these days, and getting my energy back more and more with each day.....

My brain is working a mile a minute too and if I could sew as fast as my brain works I would have published at least 4 patterns this week alone!  Oh - how I wish!!!! 

Okay - I have to drive Barb somewhere this evening and then I'm going home to watch the Leafs (hockey)!!!  I'm not sure what my hands will be doing as I'm leaving Sonia (my Janome) at the store until tomorrow but who know, maybe I'll surprise myself and set Bernie (my Bernina - not a very creative name but it's always worked for her!) up and get some long overdue quilting done!  I'll see how I feel when I get home, Lithia Park is also screaming for some attention.......

Have a great day everyone!!!

Jo-Ann

I think.....

it's been quite a week!  Lots of cooking and I finally got back to doing some quilting tonight.  It's hard to keep on top of everything, the store, the house and everything else I have to do!
I'm getting used to it but it's such a change from the last few months.....

Trying to take it slow, but in all honesty I had to jump right in and start getting things done!  It's very important to get back in control of my life.....

On the plus side I'm happy to report I am thrilled with Lithia Park, I got the 4 centre blocks done tonight and I just love it!!!!  This one's going to be my quilt!

I think I'll be working on this one for the next few weeks!  I really have Nancy, Barb and Laurissa to thank for this one....I honestly believed that I would never get this done until I found those Paper Pieces!

Join me this coming weekend at the Cock A Doodle Quilt Retreat - starts Thursday and ends Sunday - you can come 1, 2, 3 or all 4 days!  The e-mail went out tonight - it's going to be a blast!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

It's been a rough ride.....

The surgery went very well and I rested!  I took 5 weeks and the great news is.........I got a clean bill of health from the oncologist last week!

I also started cleaning the house finally!!!  I know that sounds funny but for the past 10 months, since we moved into the townhouse I have been in such bad physical shape that it just didn't get done.  Jonathan did try his best to keep it somewhat clean but we all know - it's never the way you would do it yourself, especially the kitchen.  I came downstairs one day and found this!

 By the evening - with much rest in between tasks, I turned it back into this!

Still a couple of items in the sink but they went pretty quickly to their "homes"!  The dishwasher was run twice that day!

 It was well worth the effort and it's pretty much stayed this clean for the past two weeks, just have to keep it up!

Of course, that was only the beginning, the next day I tackled my little home office right off the kitchen.......started with this!  The floor had become storage for everything......

 It took a whole day also but in the end was worth it and I now am pretty much organized so I can just sit down and do what I have to do......

 .....or I can just hang out in my chair and do some hand work.....which is actually quite nice to do....

Of course, when I became ill, all decorating of the house came to an abrupt halt!  So now I hope to slowly get back to moving in.....it's been a long, rough year!  I'm truly hoping things will settle down and that I can stay here for awhile.....

As of last week I am back at the store on a regular basis!  Back to cooking up a storm and enjoying all of my customers' visits!

This morning I made my Apple Cake recipe because tonight is Sit & Sew!  I'm planning Roast Chicken (stuffed of course) with Green Beans & Mushrooms, Potatoes (still haven't made up my mind whether to do roast or mashed - maybe both LOL) and Cranberry Sauce  and home-made Dinner Rolls (gotta go make the dough now!)

I have been working hard on Lithia Park because it's so portable - I just pack it up and off I go, the store, the doctor's office - pretty much anywhere I can weild a needle.

I've set myself up in my room so I can sit and stitch while I watch TV - all my favourite hand sewing tools and I've managed to get all of the petals for the large flowers done and am working on finishing the leaves now.....

So now I have to be true to my word and start getting all those UFO's done that I told the doctor I needed to finish when I got sick!!!!  Lithia Park qualifies as a UFO because I started it almost 2 years ago!  I was using another "product" we carry in the store to do the diamonds and found it a very frustrating task.  About a month ago I ordered foundation pieces from Paper Pieces for the store and once I started using those, it was a breeze!
Nancy, Barb and Laurissa swear by them, they just love them and I have to admit I am hooked too! 

So this evening while the girls are working away I will be English Paper Piecing my diamonds - I haven't got much left to do, the 4 small flowers for the corner blocks and about 5 or 6 leaves - then I can piece the blocks!  As usual I get so excited when a project progresses and I can't wait to get the top done!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

A favourite tool........

I've had the tool for quite awhile but only because one of the many patterns I've purchased over the years required them.  I finally got to use it for the stems and boy it really does the job......Bias Press Bars!  We may have some at the store but if not I'll certainly put them on the next order...........

How it works?  In this case I was using 3/8" so you sew your "stem" fabric at 3/8" with a 1/4" seam allowance, wrong sides together.  You then trim your seam allowance to 1/8" and cut your stems.  Maneuver your stem onto the press bar and center the seam and press - voila!

Here's one of my finished blocks.......

Only need 15 more - but I have all my stems ready to go......I'm not sure if you noticed but I'm actually using a portable ironing board and an iron I keep upstairs in my bedroom closet.  This way I can get my applique work done while I'm watching TV.....and I can rest when I need too, lol.....

Now that I found the Paper Pieces this project is really moving right along and I'm not having too much trouble with the neuropathy, it's really a breeze!  Gotta thank Nancy, Barb and Laurissa for these!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann