Friday, January 16, 2009

QUARTER OF NINE QUILT PROBLEM

So see the completed quilt? Well when I looked

at the pattern it said cut 2-6 1/2" squares from

the fat quarter, however.....when I looked at the

completed quilt, it had 4 squares -6 1/2" for each

block.

No wonder I am bad when it comes to cutting out quilts. If one reads the instructions for the 2 X 6 1/2 rectangles I count 4

And when I looked at the 2 1/2" squares I counted 14 squares not 9 and 2- 2" squares.

Now am I wrong?

This is extremely frustrating for me when I am reading these patterns.


I hope I'm not goofing here. But when I read the
directions, and then look at the pattern, it just doesn't jive.

On another note, I finished the top of my rocket quilt, basted the whole thing and undid it again as I just didn't like the dark blue back.

That's why this morning I started cutting out
the quilt above.
It's from Fons and Porter Easy Quilts, summer of 08.
I'm going to do it my way and see what happens.

Our puppy that we puppy sit had his first hair cut today.. he looks so cute and is getting so big now than the first time I posted his photo here. At that time he was 4 lbs, now he's 13 lbs and going. He's taller than our westie Wilson but not as strong for sure.
Just a note to my daughter who reads my posts....this isn't about Wilson, it's just a comment.

I hope to do quilting stuff this weekend as it's still very very cold out only a few degrees above zero, too cold to walk more than a few minutes even with dog coats on.

Next week, Tuesday to be exact there is a certain American who needless to say will be out of work. I am so looking forward to watching the American inauguration and seeing hope in the eyes of America. We are all of us in for a hard time economically and maybe we will learn to live more simply.









Thursday, January 15, 2009

JANUARY FREEZE





I loved this photo that was sent to me. The caption said


"I'ts cold!" Really, all of us in most of Canada and the USA are freezing today. It's -5F this morning. And it's dark, no sign of sumshine as I sit here having coffee and blogging.





It's hard to get motivated when going outside is an effort to keep warm.





Yesterday, after a great afternoon of bridge....I was "sharp" I went to visit my mother at the nursing home, only to find it still closed with a flu outbreak still in effect.


I didn't go in because I haven't had the flu and don't want to get it either. I did get a shot, but apparently the strain that is going around is not one that I am protected from.


So, no chances for me in that area





Here is a photo posted on our cottage marina
site and it shows a lone wolf going across the lake which is very unusual to see a wolf in the day time on the lake.

Poor thing looks so lonely and cold. We hear them sometimes on still nights on the lake as we are so close to Algonquin Park and their echos are so haunting.

I started to stitch in the ditch of the most recent quilt and I had to undo the seam as it looks awful on the quilt. I don't know why but I basted and measured and ended up with a pucker at the edge. Oh well it's not large and I am good at picking seams.
I finished a pair of pyjamas bottoms and am so happy with them that I am making more for the summer season at the cottage. I bought some black print a while back and since I have some old black tees, I am now co ordinated when I go to bed. Jerry remembers the days when I wore silk nighties....ah those were the days he says.
Now I wear socks to keep my feet warm too!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

THE ROCKET QUILT













I loved this magazine with the baby quilt patterns. Last summer when I was really learning to sew straight seams..Yeah really...I made a few patterns for strippie quilts from some ideas of this fons and porter edition.




Anyway, here is the quilt that I made my rocket quilt from the pattern on the left. I didn't do it identical, and my measurements were done at 8 1/2" squares because I was using the left over dog bones that I had. Of course I had 11 and I needed 12, but added another left over square of green at the bottom. It still looks good.



I also didn't make them on the diagonal because of the rocket guy in the fabric that I had. As you can see it's very colourful. Now my problem is what colour do I do the binding. What with the blue on the sides and blue backing (because I have lots of it) I am out of the yellow which actually has a little pattern on it and that would be great, but none of that left.


Soooooooo, I'm thinking, can I do it orange? I also have some green fabric, but I just don't think that would do it.

I am so pleased with the results of this one. All my squares lined up, all the corners match. Yeah, I know that they're supposed to but...it's me sewing and sometimes I gotta rip out and rip out. I am really really good at ripping out.

I am squirming with happiness here people! Can you feel it?

I haven't had the ambition to work on quilting for the past few days. I am facebook addicted these days and what with connecting to family, and seeing all the photos of friends past and present with their kids, now almost teenagers or worst yet, grown, I am feeling the love of reconnection to family and lost friends. So that's what I've been doing. I also scanned some old family photos of my mom and her sisters etc and you know the most comments are that the fashions were just fabulous and how beautiful all the people were.

Anyway, I am back to quilting and will consult with my sweetie and ask his opinion on the colour of the binding.

Oh and for those that aren't looking out the window today, it's a blizzard out there...again. what a winter.