I Spy was finished for Christmas

I managed to complete the quilting and sew the binding on my DGD’s quilt in the 18 hours between booking our flights on the 18th and leaving for the airport on the 19th.  And I managed to finish sewing the binding on before Christmas day – although I was completing it at midnight on Christmas Eve.  I only took a few pictures but wanted to show off this quilt that took me three years or more. 

There was lots of time spent looking for fabrics.  After I sewed all the wings on the hexagons and sewed them together in rows I realized that they were not going to match up when I sewed the rows together.  The quilt went into pause mode for quite a while.  Then I had a Eureka moment and knew that I could rectify it by adding the little strips.  I started the quilting on it early in 2010, but got bogged down somewhere along the way and took another break for a month or two.

I think it is a beauty and my DGD loves it.  DGS said “Grandma, did you sew this?”  Now I’ll have to make one for him too…

It is a lap size quilt, but I didn’t get an exact measurement.

The backing fabric came from my non-sewing friend who bought reams of fabric to make wrap around skirts for an abortion clinic twenty years ago.  She gifted me with the fabric a couple of years ago when she was cleaning out her garage.  DGD picked the sunflowers from the various choices.

I did “in the ditch” quilting around every hexagon, then the swirls and loops on the blue.

The inner border has a traditional motif.  I have decided that writing is one of my favourite quilting designs and the second border has writing all the way around.  These capital letters are so easy to do.  The third border (in yellow) has loops and stars – the same as I used on the mug rug DGD made for her mom.  The binding is green polka dots – the same as DGD chose for the background of her dad’s mug rug.  Tying the family together.

Janet

Christmas pics for DD # 2

All of DH’s family were here for Christmas and the funeral get together except for DD # 2.    I didn’t take a lot of pictures but here are a smattering of family photos.

The tree with lights (you’ll be happy to know that I put them on Laina) but not a single ornament yet on December 22nd.

The stockings lined up by the chimney with care.  And it appears St. Nicholas has already been there!

We did manage to get a few ornaments on before Christmas Day. 

Lighting the candles for Christmas dinner.

Carving the turkey…

Men in the kitchen….

Nisa, my Thai sister-in-law, put a plate on the table for my father-in-law, every dinner until his cremation.  I’m not sure what happened to her hair in this photo, as she is always very “put together” and fashionable.  She said that when she talked to him and invited him to join us for the meal she felt his presence.  Maybe that’s why her hair is standing on end.

DD # 1 and DGD in their new coats.

Mike, Yuy, Tony and Andrew the clown.

Olivia and Ella

DH and his siblings at the memorial.  We scattered the ashes, people relayed stories as they wished and we ate supper.  Today when DH was going through his dad’s things he found a paper that said what his dad wanted for his funeral.  They got it right on. 

DD # 3 with her boyfriend.  He arrived in time for the wake.

And I guess I have to include a picture of me…DH, me, Nisa, DD # 1 and DD # 3.

Janet

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  My father-in-law passed away in the middle of the night last night.  It is as it should be.  There is sadness and stress but also friendship, love and caring for this family and for a loved one who will be missed. 

Warm wishes for this season of comfort and joy to you all…

Janet

Thanks, a few items to show and a bit about me

Thanks for all your love and wishes about my father-in-law.  He is still hanging on but it will likely only be for another day or two.  My DH and I were so glad to get here in time to see him and DH even got a conscious reaction, a smile and an attempt to talk. 

He is at the Hospice House and is not in any pain or discomfort.  DH has been there with him since we arrived.  The rest of us have been back and forth.  I spent much of today cleaning my sister-in-law’s house and putting lights on the Christmas tree for her.

Now we are hoping my father-in-law will hold on until my two daughters get here this evening and his other two sons get here, either tonight or tomorrow.  One has come from Thailand.  My DD in Newfoundland isn’t coming.  It is just too far, too complicated and too expensive.  She said that the weather is bad there today, planes aren’t flying and ferries aren’t running. 

I received two items in the mail last week.  Last mail I’ll get until I get home at the end of the year.  The first is a little prize I won from Quilt Sue in the Christmas sew along. 

A pattern for a wool table mat, a little coaster, chocolate Santa and two candy canes ; as well a beautiful card.  Thanks so much Sue.  I will definitely be trying the pattern in the new year.

Here is the mug rug I finished for Rika, our friend who is house sitting while we are away, along with the accompanying mug.

I’m also going to show you my Secret Santa present from Linda, but I feel like a heel because I seem to have erased her contact info and her full name etc. is at home.  I love the gifts anyway Linda!  Thank-you so much.

A really cute wall hanging…and three candles, scented evergreen, cinnamon and vanilla.  My grandkids insisted we have all three going for dinner   I love the silvery holders and the cute card Linda sent.

I filled out this little questionnaire so you can all find out some really important things about me  

1.Sweet or Salty?  Definitely salty.  I would pick chips or nuts over chocolate any day.
2. Dresses or Jeans?  I don’t wear either.  Well I wear a dress once or twice a year.  I don’t wear jeans at all.  I am of the opinion that many people THINK they look better in jeans than they do.  I think I probably don’t look too wonderful in jeans.  I like soft pants, fancy sweat pants really.
3. House or Apartment?  House.  Definitely.
4. Shop Online or Offline?  I do a lot of shopping on line because there are only so many stores in a town of 30,000 and it is a long way to other stores (1500 miles).  I do prefer shopping in person.

5. DVDs or Downloads?  DVDs.  Our internet connection is slow.  It takes 3-4 minutes for most short u-tube videos to open.  I wouldn’t have the patience to wait for movies.
6. Cocktails or Juice?   I seldom drink juice.  Too acidic.  I like a glass of wine with dinner.  During the day I drink water mostly.
7. Chocolate or Strawberry?  Strawberry.  Especially ice cream or a milk shake.  I like to eat milk chocolate occasionally.
8. Laptop or PC?  Laptop.  I was a PC girl but when my last computer died I got a laptop and I really like it.

9. Magazines or Newspapers?  Newspapers – our local paper 5 days a week and the Vancouver papers when I go to the cafe.  I read magazines when waiting in the doctor’s office.  Oh and I occasionally buy quilting magazines.
10. Facebook or Twitter?  Facebook but not much of that.  It’s enough keeping up with blogging.  I haven’t ventured in to the world of Twitter at all.

11. CDs or MP3s?  CD's.  Having upgraded from LPs to tapes to CDs I just can’t do it again. 
12. Kids or Pets? Both.  Kids are grown but I love it when they come to visit.  I love pets too but with DH and I both working it is hard to leave animals at home alone.  We took in a stray dog a year and a half ago and love him.  DH takes him to work when I won’t be at home with him.   Wouldn’t be able to do that with more than one pet.
13. Cookies or Cupcakes?  Cookies.  Cupcakes are a special treat – possibly on someone’s birthday.
14. Walk or Run?  Both.  I love walking and I love running.  I ran a mile every day for a year two years ago.  Now I run only a bit but I want to get back into it.
15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out?  Out of bed.  I’m not big on eating in bed.
16. Market or Supermarket?  Oh that there was only a market to go to….We have a choice of four grocery stores.  I never go to one as it is out of the way, I avoid one as I hate it, I go to the one near my DD’s when I am there and I frequent the fourth.
17. Sourdough or Grainy?  Grainy.  I have a sourdough starter that came over the Chilkoot Trail in 1898 and I make sourdough bread occasionally.  Love it but I like the grainy bread more.
18. Heels or Flats?  Definitely flats.  I’ve never owned or worn heels.

19. Late nights or Not?  Yup.  I get up early – 6:30 a.m. usually but my inner self doesn’t really rev up until around 4 p.m.  I am usually wide awake at 9 p.m. when DH is ready to go to bed.
20. Coffee or Tea?  Tea.  I don’t drink coffee at all.  One cup of jasmine, green or Earl Grey tea in the morning, or chai tea latte made with soy milk if I go to a cafe, and herbal tea the rest of the time.

Janet

The second December Friday Night Sew in Report

NEWS FLASH DD # 1 IF YOU ARE READING THIS STOP NOW.  SECRET PICTURES ON THIS POST!

I got a bit accomplished last night even though I didn’t get started until about 8:30 p.m.  Had to do a bit of shopping after work. 

I am trying to finish my granddaughter’s I Spy quilt for Christmas.  It has been three years at least in the making.  I worked on the spiral quilting last night.  Four more rows of these to do and the outside border to quilt, then binding and it will be done. 

I also worked on these mug rugs which my granddaughter and I started last weekend.  They are Christmas presents for her to give to her parents.  She did all the design work and sat beside me and pushed the pedal while sewing.  I did the quilting last night on them both.  The second still needs binding and a bit more embellishment.

 

I also started this mug rug.  It is for our friend Rika who is house sitting for us while we are away over Christmas.  Rika is Japanese and I have wanted to give her something with this shashiko quilting that I did in it.  I was going to make a bag, but I have a lovely ceramic cup and this will match perfectly.  I’ll have to finish it tonight.  I asked Rika whether she ever saw shashiko in Japan and she said once on something a really old person was wearing.

 

Here is a pic of the little mug rug that my DGD made for herself last weekend.  She did this all on her own, design, ironing and sewing.  I just pinned pieces in place for her prior to sewing.  She tackled the door before I could help her.  Love how she maneuvered the corners.

We got the news this morning that my f-i-l is dying.  We were leaving on Monday to drive down there for Christmas but now we are flying down tomorrow.  Life will probably be busy over the next while. 

Merry Christmas to you all!  May peace and joy be in your hearts and homes.

Janet

Thursday thoughts

I have made a few little gifts to send to bloggy quilting friends this week.  Tis the season for giving! 

These post cards are a modification of Carol Doak’s paper piecing pattern from her group.

Blue Spruce with Monkey Santa….

Golden Glow

And my first mug rug…

I’ll be sewing up a storm for Friday Night Sew In tomorrow: a few more mug rugs (3 to be exact) and I am madly finishing an I Spy quilt for my granddaughter’s Christmas present. 

I think it is better to give than to receive.  It certainly gives a deeper feeling.  Receiving is mostly a shorter lived joy.  But this doesn’t mean I don’t want to receive things

Janet

Friday Night Sew In

Not much accomplished yesterday for sewing.  Had to go to Whitehorse for my biyearly eye exam.  Stopped at the quilt store to look for yellow or orange fabrics and came home with a big bag of scraps which I only just started sorting. 

The seniors and volunteers Christmas party went really well.  We had more than 60 people attend.  Kevin, our local professional musician, who volunteers his music and sound equipment for every local event, came and played country/bluegrass Christmas music along with a friend of his from Kentucky.  Mrs. Claus showed up to help serve dinner and I had a dance with her. 

The Native people’s tradition of potlatches includes taking food home.  If you have a dinner event and there isn’t food to take home the elders at least don’t quite understand why.  So we had lots of food and recyclable take home containers.  The traditional turkey dinner was delish, there were about fifteen different deserts to try and everyone who wanted to got to take home a container of each course. 

Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures. 

My grandchildren were here when I got home – they are having a two night sleepover.  We had to watch Dennis the Menace and read a couple of books before they went to bed.  I just managed to produce a couple more blocks for my colours quilt before I had to go to bed too.  Here they are – the two purple ones are the new additions.

My DGD and I are going to sew mug rugs this afternoon.  She has her designs, fabrics and trims all ready to go.

Janet

Thursday thoughts

I went to Vancouver, B.C. on Tuesday for an appointment.  Up at 5, in Vancouver by 10:30.  The appointment was from 11:30 to 4:30 with a half hour break for lunch.  I was tired but thought I couldn’t go all that way and not go to a fabric store, or at least do some Christmas shopping.  I don’t know Vancouver well so I asked at the desk where my appointment was if they would look up fabric stores for me.  The young woman found a Fabricland number on the computer, called it and found it wasn’t in service.  She could only find one other store and it closed at 5.  Too early for me to get to unless I took a $30 taxi ride and then I’d only have ten minutes in the store.  The young woman said “I don’t think there are too many other fabric stores because nobody sews anymore”!! 

I was too tired to shop anyway.  I took the bus to Robson Street – big downtown shopping area.  I walked all the way down one side and all the way up the other and didn’t see one store I wanted to go into.  I’m not much of a shopper except for fabric and food.

I was disappointed not to get to a fabric store.  I have such a craving to see new, different and exciting fabrics.  There are only two stores within travelling distance up here.  They are both nice, but small and you get so you know what they have.  Maybe my feelings are just part of the discontent of this time of year.  Short days, cold weather, lots of snow and the Christmas excitement hasn’t really started yet.  I’ve got a couple of decorations out though.

Look at this lovely Santa.  My friend got it as a gift from her mother and thinks it’s hideous!  “Well” I said.  “Let me hang it up at my house, then you can tell your mother it is being loved and enjoyed”! 

 

The grandchildren love it!  The little tree below is what I had for a Christmas tree last year.  I was being extra grinchy and since we weren’t going to be at home for Christmas I didn’t want to put up a live tree.  I got this one at Michael’s in Victoria with a coupon that brought the price down to about $10.  I would love to find some mini lights for it if anyone has seen any around.

I’ve been working on this project a bit but I definitely don’t have enough oranges or yellows, even with hitting my stash. 

Friday Night Sew In tomorrow, which I’m looking forward to.  I have to cook a turkey for the seniors and volunteers Christmas dinner, then go help with serving.  I’ll be sewing through the day though.

Janet

Mail continued–both coming and going…

I received a couple of mail items that I had ordered.  Getting things you order in the mail is just as exciting as receiving prizes!

First up: I bought this book and fabrics from Patty.  She was selling off some of her stash so she could buy a car for a relative that needed one.  I was awed by her generosity.  I love these batik fabrics and I have been meaning to buy this book for a while.

Here is another book I decided I needed after looking at the whirlygig blocks that Jackie has been making.   I can’t wait to try some of the patterns in this book.  Have to finish something first though.

I also ordered this pattern from Leanne from down under.  Just because I like it.  Another thing that I am going to make soon!

DD # 2 mentioned this morning that I haven’t posted for a while.  She’s right – it has been over a week.   But she’s been busy.  I received 24 more hexies from her this week.  And she’s starting to act like a real quilter.  Look at these batches, all tied up with ribbon!

I’ve also got some goats – from the Sisterhood of the Travelling Goats organized by Elaine.  I have to put Laura’s goats in a setting – we’ve decided they don’t want to be mountain goats or snow goats.

So here they are among my cacti, waiting for me to make a move.  My DGD said “Dad look at the bunnies on the cactus!”

And I have to embellish Fiona's goat – which came from the land down under with its own passport by the way.  Laura has made a nice start to it.  Hmm what shall I do with it next???

A few things have gone out in the mail too in the last week.  This block for Myra.

For Narelle - the December hexie  from the Inchy Flower Swap hosted by Jane.

My November block for Linda in the Christmas block swap.  I forgot to take a picture so had to grab hers off the blog.

I’ve finally got my Secret Santa gifts done.  I made a little candle mat and a Christmasy apron.

That’s all for now….whew….lots of comings and goings in the mail!

Janet