My friend Mary has been making Beanie Hats. She says they have taken on a life of their own, they are addicting for her.
She has no grand kids at the moment,none in the future, but she got a pattern from my friend Helen who took pity on Mary who was going crazy making socks or mitts.
I, on the other hand got sick of sewing messes and cut up an old sheet, about one inch wide, and decided to crochet a basket.
Um, the man of this house thinks I should go back to the sewing thing as he saw me attacking the
crochet hook with such a vengeance that he noted that he
thought crocheting was like knitting, you know a kinder gentler craft. It was tough, but I made it in an afternoon.
I may make more...
This was a house we passed on our trip through Maine. The gardens were filled with inpatients and even though the weather had been very dry, these flowers were spectacular as we passed the house resplendent with a beautiful veranda dripping with hanging baskets of beautiful flowers.
Finally, what with the water being so low every where this year, we visited what had been my great grandfathers farm. There used to be a cabin on this little lake, but that had been torn down since our last visit to the land. But we spent an hour wandering through the property looking for signs of the past. Sad for us so I don't think we will ever visit the place again.
We have had rain. Much needed rain, but not enough to actually lower the fire warnings around the area. A glorious day once more on our little piece of paradise, but the days are winding down. It is now dark by 8:30, very dark indeed.
I cannot start this day without wishing the red dog here a Happy Birthday. He is the luckiest dog in the world....even though he stresses over modelling baby hats....as he belongs to my dog Wilson. So Happy Birthday Quincy.
When we were in Maine, this stove had been donated to the museum. It is still in full working condition. The various post and pans ....which is which...are sometimes used when cooking pioneer recipes events in Limestone.
The part on the right was the water heater. the oven had a
thermostat which must have been quite the thing.
I saw all these "intimate" items hanging on the line. I don't know what the item on the left is, and I didn't ask what it was. It looks like a slip of some kind.
So interesting to visit and be able to touch all the pots which were
quite heavy, so the women must
have been hardy.
When I saw this washing machine, I could not help but think that wash day must have been something. Did you ever use a wringer type washing machine? I did.
One year my niece saw mine and said to her mom that Aunt Nanci had the newest of washers as hers let you touch the clothes while they were washing....yeah those were the days my friends. How many times my fingers almost went through that wringer, I cannot say.
First here is a photo of my mighty dog posing with my friend Mary's little hat.
The dog actually sat still! Mary and I were laughing so hard, but the mighty Westie just sat there.
The hats are for selling when we go to Florida this winter. There is to be a flea market table at the senior centre, so she is making these adorable hats.
I have finished the top of the 1930s prints quilt. Thank you Shay (of Quilting in my Pyjamas fame) for your generosity.
I used every piece she sent except one darker green which I didn't think went well with the rest of the colours.
Because I used fusible web, it is stiff in the flower design. I also have now bought Steam a Seam which is so much lighter. Lessons learned always.
I sent a few email pm to a few bloggers asking if I should wash the top before sending it to a quilter and the replies were NO. Let the long arm quilter decide. Thank you Bev for really getting the research done on what to do.
The quilt is 90 X 110, so there is no way I can do this on my home machine.
Of course, if I get my king size bed next spring, the mattress is 15" deep and the quilt won't fit. I may display it on the side ways so that I can use it. Why do they make the mattresses so deep and why did we buy it?
The beginning of a new school year always brings the lake to very quiet and tranquil days. Our neighbours will leave today, Mary is off to school, her sister Erin is at Notre Dame, so for the first time in years, an only child will be in their home. The dad is missing his Erin I know.
Our Olympic hopefuls are also gone from their nest. Our girl is at Ottawa University and the darling grandson is living with a family (of saints I assure you) in Oakville so that he can train so much more. Messy is his middle name.
Happy Labour Day.
When we were in Maine for a few days, we were invited to a BBQ lunch at the heritage center in Limestone.
There were a few quilts there from 1930s. The hexagon quilt was particularly sweet and in very good shape. Donated by one of the local ladies in remem-
brance of her grandmother.
The quilt wasn't very heavy as there was no lining. It was a summer quilt so I was told. The lack of lining was also in the second scrappy quilt from the 1940 era as the tag said.
I didn't realize so much coloured
fabrics was available then. But it was.
There were many items in the little museum, all donated by local people which isn't much as Limestone is quite small, and only about 30 miles from Caribou, and an area that is know for farming potatoes.
This little dress, which looks like a size 0 was actually worn by someone! I tell you it is really tiny and was handmade too. The lace collar was bought and could be removed to fit another dress. I do not know the fabric of the dress, but it is in great shape.
I am not one to do a lot of browsing but this place was amazing with all the antiques which were so well preserved.
This is actually made of quite small yo yos. They were made using the tops off milk bottles.
The quilt in the photo fits on a queen size bed.
It was made around 1930 by my aunt's mother in law. All hand pieced, and sewn together.
The yo yos are not sewn to another back, but just float on whatever background you wish to use.
Quite an amazing piece of work!
In the cabin was this old stove which apparently still works quite well and on cold winter days the cabin is heated using this stove and the fireplace which is made of the huge stones from the lake.
Of course one doesn't remove stone nowadays, but in the mid 20s and 30s, it was the thing to do.
The cabin is made using so much recycled materials that it was all quit overwhelming to see so much "old" stuff.
I have seen a few old yo yo quilts, but this one was quite a work of art.
There are many more quilts to show when I post in the future. We have had so much company that it will be nice to just relax for the next few days and start -or finish- work here at the cottage.
We have been on holiday to the maritime provinces.
We went to the Canadian Canoe Championships in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.
Stopping over in Maine for a few days of visiting with relatives
resulted in my taking many photos of quilts from the 20s and 30s.
This first was done in the 1930, all hand done by the mother in law of my aunt.
It is a large double with the bright yellow sashing giving the quilt the proper "pops" it deserves.
The little butterfly quilt on the right must weigh 30 lbs...really really heavy as there is a wool finish on the back side. It has been tied, so it will be easy to take apart I think. I am wondering how to make this into a lighter quilt, and how to wash the little blocks. My aunt would love to restore this quilt to use. There are two of them!
Do you think some of these old quilts are worth the trouble to restore? I hope so as I really want to make a quilt of the usable blocks from these quilts. I do think the woman who made these two (three really) quilts liked yellow as much as me. Both are done with yellow sashings!
I have many more photos to post, but am just saying that I am back to hopefully, a more normal life of sewing and getting on with quilting as the fall season will be upon us so soon.
I missed my blogging!
August has been crazy! We have had company since the first..
A big pot luck party with over a hundred people this year! A great success. The food was fabulous as usual and with a quilt going to the best dish, the competition was fierce!
My friend Helen whose family is much smaller than yours truly has had time to work on projects for children in her realm who make life happy for their parents.
The little house quilt is going to a sweet girl that her daughter loves dearly...the quilt is to be called "Nila's Village" which says it all about this quilt.
Also finished is the quilt top for another friend who will be pleased to receive the Ohio wonky star. I love what white and blue do together.
Since my family has left the cottage, first there was eleven for four days, then four for four days, and the heavens opened for four days, we had family weekend with sweetie's siblings cancel and we said the bad news was we didn't have company, and the good news was we didn't have company!
We spent days watching the amazing Olympics and loved the views of London. If the photos of that beautiful city didn't inspire one to travel there nothing will!
So they ended and I was back to the computer to came across the photo of a whale that a friend of my daughter took off the coast of British Columbia. It is a grand photo, one to be enlarged and framed to be sure.
We are off, before I can even start sewing, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the Canadian Canoe/Kayak Championships. I am going to have an opportunity to get my picture taken with at least one of our Olympians. Wahoo.
I tell you September can't come to soon to start to settle down and sew. I have all the blocks done from the fabric sent by Shay (of Aussie fame), and also an Ohio Star to be put together. Time has moved too quickly for me this summer. Do you find that for you too?
See you in a couple of weeks.
Here in Canada, we use the Moose as a great image to promote anything....this is at the Olympic Village for all the athletes to see.
The moose was an original idea to promote Ontario activities one year. Companies bought the moose for charity promotions, the city of Toronto had them all over the city and they were a great source of attractions!
Now, years later, we have one in London. I believe that there is one at London House where our diplomats have offices. Don't know that for sure, but there should be one.
I love this one!
The above photo was Google's tribute to Amelia Erhart today. 115 years. Gosh, Google does great stuff every day. Also today, with the passing of Sally Ride, it is good to remember these women who were pioneers.
Another quilt in the making. My friend Mary who contributed fabrics to my stash wanted to make a quilt. Well, she designed and I sewed....this was the result of one day's work at the cottage even though it was very hot day which would have been better spent in the water...
It's the same pattern as this one, but
look what happens when the colour palette changes. Totally different quilt.
This is the one that my friend Dawn made while she was here. I am always surprised at the different colours we all choose for projects that are similar.
I have decided to make bread! I used to make bread in another lifetime, so it should be easy for me. Well it wasn't easy, but not too difficult either. Timing is everything. I bought silicone pans, which should be put on a cookie sheet as the pans are a bit wobbly and the loaf on the right jiggled as it was going in the oven, so it's a bit wonky.
No rain as yet. Who is getting rain? We have a total fire ban in the area here, as well as Algonquin Park. No outdoor fires whatsoever even cooking. If one must cook out doors, propane stoves are allowed. This is the worst drought in years as I cannot remember this edict ever being broadcast in our area.
The weather has cooled today, but still, when the radio says 40% chance of rain, who really believes it?
What an honour to be the flag bearer for a Nation. Simon Whitfield our long distance medalist from the last summer Olympics is Canada's choice. Truly an honour for this athlete.
So many people got to have their photos taken with Simon including my grandchildren, Courtney and Jeremy. Total Bliss as you can see!
Our hopefuls were at a reception for Simon at the canoe club where they train, work and do volunteer work.
A small affair at their club to send off the canoe/kayak Olympians ended up with hundreds of young and old paddlers sending them all off.
I am so excited....can't wait.
I have been in the city getting my machine repaired and learned so much about what I did to my poor sewing machine. First, I should have made sure that the fusible web was fused! Then, not messed with the machine like I did. I actually put the bobbin tension out.
Whatever, it is here and I am happy to have it back.
It is Friday after all, so my favourite thing today is being back home with my loves, the dog and the sweetie, not necessarily in that order!
This, is my new project. I received some 30s prints from Shay. She said they were all extras from her stash! Wow, I had days to decide what I would do with all the beautiful prints.
You know the saying so much to do, so little time...not quite for me, but making a decision to use
the fabric in a way that it would be
really used.
I decided on Roses of Picardy which is an old design. The centre has not been decided as yet, but I am thinking a soft yellow centre instead of black as the black is too harsh for the block.
I am having trouble with the fusible web. Actually, it is the threads that keep looking like they shred when sewn for more than one part of a pattern. Poor machine, I think when I was cleaning it, that I must have moved a small wire or something in the upper feeder. So much for cleaning my own machine. Which, by the way is a Janome 6600 and does not need to be oiled as I have it cleaned professionally once a year. Next week is my once a year....
The pile is my quilts....can you believe it? That is minus 5 quilts that have gone to a good home, plus the three that I have on beds here at the cottage.
I am gifting one for the best pot luck dish at our annual supper. I think one of the nice things about quilting is the ability to see the happiness on the faces of people receiving our love projects.
A very busy week so far. My friend Dawn came to visit. She isn't much of a quilter she says, so between the two of us we made this quilt for her in a day and a half.
Wish I could take credit for the quilt, but it comes from Moda Bake shop via Quilting in the Rain blog. Easy and quick but so effective.
It was a joyous moment when Dawn saw the quilt finished. She actually took all her extra fabrics home and hopes to be able to remember how to make it....on her own.
Also, our friends returned from Cozumel, and came to pick up their dog which we had been looking after, He is a great dog. part poodle and spaniel. Our dog missed him this morning when he woke up.
Today is my daughter's 51st birthday. I don't think a day goes by, no matter where we are that we do not communicate. Loving her is the easiest thing I have to do in this world. Just like the song....
The weather has lacked so much rain that there is a total fire restriction in our area. So many of us are going through the same weather this summer. While it seems good, it isn't for the birds and insects which share a close relationship. It isn't for the farmers who need the birds and insects to pollinate their fruit crops. Nature is needing some balance....wishing for rain is something I never thought I'd do, but we do need it.
It has been so humid that my fusible web on my new project stuck to the needle....does that say it all?
This is the last of the flip flop quilts. Also known as thongs in parts of the world, but here thongs say underwear!
I made another of these which are so popular that I do want to keep one for myself. I loved making these quilts! Such fun to pair
colourful blocks together. Again I used the remains of the jelly roll from Walmart plus a couple of other little bits of left over fabrics.
Having written that, I have purchased fabric online which will be a surprise to receive. I ordered from Missouri Quilt Shop, their sale of the day. The cost of shipping was more than the fabric.It cost $15.00 to ship to Canada. $5.00 for shipping in the US/ Why is shipping so expensive to Canada from some stores?
The lilies are almost open in my
garden which is the septic bed! I am going to split them this fall as they are getting crowded. I love lilies, I do think they are my favourite flower, well I love bee balm too of course, so they are both almost blooming.
I am pretty sure that there will be hummingbird babies at the feeder soon. The females are feeding more frequently, which says the babies are born. We shall see.
Canada Day was spectacular here at the lake. Lots of fireworks, but in the capital, Ottawa, it was awash with red and white, and last night the fireworks finished off a great day. Happy Birthday Canada....one day late.
crochet hook with such a vengeance that he noted that he 
