Never Grow Up

Two years ago at the Quilting Cartel Retreat, I made my 5 year old Grandson a Halloween quilt from a panel. I cut it apart and using various Halloween fabrics created a lap size quilt. Needless to say he was thrilled and took it everywhere. When he went to Ottawa to visit his Auntie, he had it with him. She tease him and said she was going to take it. NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

Finished

Flimsy

Auntie came out to visit in August of 2011, and once again saw the quilt. She looked at ME and said "where's mine?"

Oh please - how old are you? She said "I am serious - where's mine?"

I am controlled by guilt I will admit; so for Christmas I decided to make her one.

Christmas came upon me and it did not QUITE get finished. I packed up her parcel with a beautifully wrapped box that held a gift card and fabric scraps - telling her the rest would follow. Cheeky that she is said "well I hope it doesn't take 5 years to get here" BRAT!!!! Well she should be getting it any day now.

WHY?

Why would a person leave the comfort of their sewing room to go and sit in a cabin by the ocean to sew. WHY?? I will tell you why - to sew with a friend that is why. My friend and I sew for The Gallery at Saratoga. We create quilted items for the home and for children that seem to be very popular. Mostly we sew in isolation but periodically we get together and create.

So (sew) here we are cramped and crowded but having fun and getting to walk on the beach with the tide out - HOW GOOD DOES IT GET. We did have a glass or two of wine in the evening. We did watch two interesting videos - The Bridesmaids - fluffy, romantic and slighty funny and For The Colored Girls - based on Ntozake Shange's Obie Award-winning play exploring the plight of black women. I felt that it depicted the plight of all women - watch it - it is thought provoking.

I did say walk on the beach - in January - on a sunny day. You can see forever. HOW GOOD DOES IT GET.

TenFold Sunday

Our group of 8 plus 1 got together on Sunday to play in Kathy's studio. She had a diversion for us. We were to gather some "ugly" fabrics - she suggested going to the thrift store and getting articles of clothing - light weight of no particular fibre. They were to be cut into 15 inch (approximately) pieces - to be cut down later. Plus we were to bring various other bits for the class. She promised no sewing and suggested a potluck lunch. The potluck lunch was FABULOUS. Fabric play was freeing - using fabric that we had not invested much in and we were not emotionally attached to was amazing. We created a template that we loosely used. By the time we had cut out our fabrics and started arranging them as directed we lost all controll and did our own thing.


 This is mine - my background fabric was an old polyester curtain - fusible interfacing ironed to the back. The next layer I think is upholstry fabric and it is the wrong side. I kept adding bits cut in the shape of my template then found bits on the table cut from others templates. I just kept piling it on. 

I added another piece under the first circle. Is it okay?  It will do I suppose. What am I going to do with it. Perhaps nothing but it was a such a freeing exercise.

 

Lois' Creation

Colleen's Creation



Norma's Creation

Christie's Creation

Oh Happy Day

I am in 7th Heaven - it IS snowing and I'd say we have about 3 inches or in the world of today 7.62 cm. And it is still coming down. I know, I know it will be raining soon but I will enjoy the day and what it gives me.

This corner of the world covered in white. It is a good excuse to play hookey. I think even if it rains it is a good day to play hookey.

Now I wonder, do kids now a days know what playing hookey is? There are a lot of sayings that I use that my grandkids snicker at - like "Brownie Points".  I asked my granddaughter if she knew what that meant and she said no. Interesting and an interesting conversation was had around that.

Oh NO I think it is starting to rain BUMMER. I am going to sit and knit for a bit and enjoy the view of the garden in the snow.

Winter on the Island

It is finally hear - sort of - we only have about 3 cm of snow but it is cold - cold for here anyway. Right now it is -7 C. Earlier when I was out and about it was -9 C. Okay I will admit this is not the coldest place in the world.

I love the snow, unlike most people who live on the Coast. It is pretty while it is white and fresh. The world seems like a better place. But it never lasts long here - before you know it, it will be either a slushy, dirty mess or it will have disappeared completely.

I am an eternal child; excited to see those first flakes and so sad when it is gone. I still remember when we had a fog horn at the lighthouse instead of the mechanical noise. You would lay awake at night and hear it and you would know by the temperature of the house that it was SNOWING. I would get so excited. I still get excited when I wake up and see the snow falling.

I see by the Weather Network we will have snow today and Thursday then rain on Friday. Oh I was so hoping for a snowday. While it does not help me much as I work from home, I know that my Grandkids would LOVE it.

And So It Goes

Onwards in the quest to get ready for this renovation!!! I decided to get a few more quotes for our cabinets in hopes of mitigating the exorbitant amount of money that I have committed to for the fixtures. The company that did our kitchen will be here on Monday to redo his quote. I am getting quote coming from Splashes, Home Hardware and I will seek another from another local company next week.

Now to flooring - so many choices and so much to learn - sanded grout and non sanded grout I did not know. Thin grout lines, no grout lines, ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, laminate; there are just too many choices and the only thing that we did finally decided on is heated floors (well that is we have ALMOST decided on). I have a sample of a ceramic tile at home but I do believe it will be the floor - I love it - I loved it before.

I spent sometime viewing tiles for the shower and for the back splash. This is another world too. I decided to have off white subway tile and a band of glass in the shower and probably the same for the backsplash. If we keep our existing mirror the tile will only go up about 12 inches or so but if we go with another mirror I may go up cabinet height. At this time there is a plan for a valance to hold lights but again, I have looked at other options. It is just too confusing

I went to our ReUse It Store and bought a small cabinet to house our bathroom items in the small bathroom. This room does not have any storage at all and I thought this would do the trick for now - and besides for $15 it is not a bad little box.

Bathrooms

I spent a wonderful hour at Andrew Sheret's showroom called Splashes. Interesting place - BEAUTIFUL stuff. I found out all sorts of information - somethings that although I am sure I should know I think I might have to forget.

It was so hard to make a choice. The choices are endless - size, finish, on top of counter, under counter, brushed chrome or not, rain shower head and on and on and on. My head was spinning. Thank goodness Kevin, the Showroom Supervisor was patient and obliging and knowledgable. After an hour was up - I had ordered a new sink, tub, toilet, glass shower doors and faucets. I also got a quote on heated floors which I know have to sell this idea to Michael. He is not really receptive to this idea right now but we shall see. 

I am not sure how a person can be so exited about bathroom fixtures but I left there giddy over them. Hey it should be a toilet is a toilet etc. But I chose a toilet with a concealed trapway - WHY you ask?Well I have a dog and two cats and the hair flys up onto the ledge that connects the toilet to the floor. I spend a lot of time wiping that down. NOW there is no more ledge. Such a simple thing it is but makes extreme sense to me. The tub I chose is deep - 23" and it has a sloped back rest. I will be in heaven.