It's September...

My husband climbed "Heart Mountain" on Sunday. Part of me is jealous, part of me is like, 'why'?

Part of me hopes he has released his desire to climb a mountain, as I was worried about him from the time he left, to the time he returned.

School is back in session, my boys are finally starting to realize that school is not an option, and that they will be push, pulled, or dragged daily even if they cry. haha.

Big Grade 1

Big Grade 4

We had a great summer..we moved to our new city, had several sets of visitors already and are enjoying our new home and new city immensely. We were able to do a quick trip down to Myrtle Beach and visit the grandparents.

Am I the only one who fights bunny ears in each photo op? What do bunny ears mean? Why is it so entertaining?

My machine is set and ready to go. I've got a project ready to "bake" and will share it with you as soon as I can. I'm pretty stoked about it, because not only is it uber cool, but the colours in it will match my new bedroom perfectly. Score.

I'm excited about the year. It feels good. The past year has been emotionally draining and a mega roller coaster ride. I feel the dust settling. I feel like things are going to be more permanent here.

Supply time!

Back to school time doesn't have to be disappointing... for moms who like to sketch out quilt patterns, it's FUN supply time. I think I need to replenish the craft box. New crayons, new pencils, markers....and the kids get the fun too.

Isn't it amazing how a child will do anything to get in on a photo. He cracks me up.

Is back to school time a happy time for you, or do you get nostalgic and a little emotional? I get a little happy, knowing that I can wear my turtlenecks, jeans, and hibernate indoors in my quilting space.

In other news, my boys have been outfitted with golf clubs. They are not sports junkies, but they do show an interest and desire to hit a golf ball. It was a proud weekend for daddy this weekend. I've been told how lucky I am that the boys will go off and golf and I will get some alone time. well, it's really not true. I want to learn so badly myself. Even if I wasn't interested, I'd still be there with them at the driving range - cheering them on!!

Your boys are SUCH good readers..Part 1

I get this comment alot. I know my boys are readers. They love to read. Reading isn't always about what book they are reading, but the experience...

We visit the library once a week. It's a scheduled 'activity' you would say. I have heard a few comments from time to time about library books - yuk - germs from houses we don't know WHERE THOSE BOOKS HAVE BEEN!! I don't care where they've been. I'm getting free books as often as I want. I'm not a germophobe. I don't carry hand sanitizer in my bag. My kids wash their hands when I think to remind them. They're fine.

I have been reading to the boys every night since they were about 2 years old. Probably earlier, but that's when it really was a routine. I still read to them every night. There's independent reading in there now too, but I will always finish off with a story for them.

First off, buy the special library bag for 1.25. It makes the kids feel important and that their special treasure books go with them. I end up carrying the bags most of the time after they fill up, but they are very sure to know which bag of books belongs to them.

Most definately, sign them each up for their own library card. At our library, the KID card is a kid theme card, as opposed to a boring adult one. It makes the kids feel VERY important.

Don't put limits on how many books one can sign out. I usually give them a guideline of what the bag can hold. The only thing I limit is how many DVD's they can sign out. The late charges on those are wicked!

Find the children's section and really show them where different book genres are - my youngest LOVES humour and picture books with funny illustrations. My oldest LOVES non-fiction books.

some libraries have fantastic comfy seating for kids....

Don't worry if your kids are 'stuck' in a certain type of series. They'll eventually get tired of it after reading 10 or 12 of them...just like you do. Don't 'force' your child into reading a certain type of book. This is a total turnoff. Remember high school novel studies? Yup. Really let them choose on their own and load up that bag.

One amazing thing your child can do with that library card is search the online library catalogue for books and put HOLDS on them. We have quite a few library branches in Calgary, so, for instance, Ethan will search for dinosaurs (yes, STILL) online and put holds on whatever books he's interested in. The books are sent to your branch when they are available and then...get this...the BEST part is getting the phone call that a book has arrived at the library and is available for pickup. And then the even BESTER part ( quoting Cam) is finding the books on the hold shelf with his own name on there!

see the hold shelf in the back of this photo? all the little papers with people's name on them? jackpot of excitement for my kids.

When it's time to checkout, go to the self checkout counter if your library has it. It takes a little longer, but the kids love to do it. They use their own library card, they check out their own books that they chose on their own, and put them back into their own library bag. Sometimes a book doesn't check out properly and you need a librarian's assistance. Well, watch them puff up their chest as you send your child to the main desk telling the lady that there was an error with this book and it won't sign out. Pretty soon, your child 'owns' the library.

In part 2 of my reading post...I'll explain some of the wild and wacko things I do when reading aloud to my kids. Not really wild and wacko, but stuff that makes reading time fun and interesting....

bleak black blog...

I've moved and am now living in yet another city. Calgary is beautiful, the weather, so far, is great (a little of this a little of that...and lots of summer thunderstorms, ya!) All is good.

Our new house is quite new, so all we had to do was move in and unpack. There are NO renos to be done. I'm kind of relieved about that. My sewing space is a shambles, as it seems to be the last area of the house to unpack, but my machine is ready...my sketchbook has been in overdrive, and I'm ready to sew.

I've sketched out a few projects, one is in line to get started - I'm just awaiting for the fabric arrival. The sketching aspect is fun, but the actual planning and fabric requirement thing totally hurts my head.

I've been thinking of trying some software out, but being a mac user, there doesn't seem to be many options. I don't think software would ever replace my love for sketching out an idea, but it might help with accuracy and repetition of drawing blocks. I need a tool where I can draw my block idea, and then repeat it, flip it, turn it..to try things out. nothing fancy with fabric patterns and such..just something to work with blocks. The search will continue.

Next on the agenda, is getting blog reading back up and running. I've taken a huge hiatus from blogging - including blog reading. to the point where I had thousands of unread posts....so I've marked them all as read, and will start this week. Oh blogland, I've missed you. I can't wait to contribute to your blog comments...and I hope you continue to follow along with me. It's been a tough year, more than I could describe in words in blogland. But I think....I think we're back on track with life. And I can really feel my passion bubbling again.

solid inspiration..

these handbags are eenamaria . I love the mod look. Totally wouldn't wear them, because I'm way too boring, but don't they have that mondrian feel? Posting these for future solids inspiration...

these handbags are eenamaria . I love the mod look. Totally wouldn't wear them, because I'm way too boring, but don't they have that mondrian feel? Posting these for future solids inspiration...

ahem.

tap tap.
tap.
tap.

?


I'm here. almost FIVE months later. Here's the lowdown. If you're interested in a sewing post, move on.

I started running.
I took a break from running.
While taking a break from running, I gutted my master ensuite and renovated it by myself.
My husband got a job. In a different city.
I put my house up for sale.
We have a pending offer on it.
We went to Disneyland.
We went on a Disney Cruise.
I am moving to Calgary in about 2 months.

I puttered and beautified my garden and house to sell it.

As for sewing. Nothing. But lots of ideas. I'm hoping that once things settle, do they ever? I will begin to sew again. My creativity misses it.

Next on the agenda-
start running again.
confirm sale of house by end of week.
call movers, get quotes.
be even keeled for kids and appear calm and organized while husband moves to new city to start new job.
pretend that i don't miss him terribly.
enjoy better weather.
find new home in new city. (husband is in charge of 90% of this. I will visit to say yes or no)
eat icecream daily to appear calm and organized while husband is away.
celebrate 40th birthday.
pack.
move.
reunite as a family.
sew.

makes me laugh...

My five year old advised me out of the blue today that for my birthday he was getting me a new pair of blue shoes.

and a squirrel.

my birthday is not until mid May...

Confession...

shhhh...this totally undignifies my quilting status.

This is the first time EVER I have changed a blade. and I only have one cutter.

It was fast and painless - like, less than 10 seconds to do it.

HOLY COW the new one rocks!!!

So, I've confessed. what quilting sin are you guilty of?

united colours....

I'm creating a lego series quilt, but as I'm constructing it, it has a slightly mondrian feel meets benetton meets primary blocks.

Not quite finished putting the puzzle together, but I see some fun quilting ahead of me.

Crayons on fabric

Did you know about this? Am I the only one who didn't?

please indulge me and tell me that this is a great discovery for you too..

What a fun, cool and awesome way to make a quilt or even just embellish a block!

You take your normal everyday wax crayons. Tape some cotton fabric to the table, keeping the fabric taught. Colour! Draw! Print! Go Crazy!

Then, to set the crayon, you slip the fabric that you coloured in between two pieces of plain paper. Iron on the cotton setting. Do this a few times. You'll notice the wax will 'soak' into the paper somewhat.

Done!

I did this little example in less than 5 minutes just to show how bright it shows up. I didn't press ultra heavily either. Instead of black crayon, use a micro fine sharpie to draw the image first, and then colour it in. I'm sure it will look much sharper.

Mr. Paleo had a try too - he really liked it, and wanted to make a whole bunch of squares to make a quilt. Again - at the end, touch up with a fine sharpie and it would look awesome.

I bet this would technique would be cool as a watercolour wash style....

Liebster Blog...

I'm feeling kind of humbled because I received this award the other day from Little Island Quilting

It is essentially 'awarded' to those crafty blogs with 300 followers or less who are quietly going about doing their own thing and possibly not getting the exposure that some of the larger blogs are.

I thank her for the award, but in a way, I'm mad because now I have another 15 blogs that I added to my reader list - you know how you hop from one blog, click on one of the links, hop to that link...see another link...hop there...well, that's what has happened. ;-) It's all good.

While I love some of the 'big names' out there, you've seen them all too. I like the mix of home, pets, cooking, people, crafts, troubles, frustrations....I like to get to know the blogger behind the quilting too.

The hard part now, is that I get to pay it forward and award it to 3-5 blogs that I really like (with less than 300 followers) This one is really hard, because I have a lot, and narrowing it down to 3-5 is crazy. And because I am who I am...I HATE hurting people's feelings...I have 8 blogs I want to list, and the restrictions are 3-5. that's not fair?

In no particular order:

GitDownKitty - Lisa cracks me up. That's all I can really say about her. It's either her or me that's crazy, but I have been in tears of laughter through written emails with her. She's really stepping up her crafting work and making USEFUL projects. And she drives the coolest car ever.

Grendelskin - Sally's quilting has evolved into absolutely stunning work. She's very humble, and I love to read her blog, she always has interesting tidbits to write about aside from quilting. She's one of the oldest blogs I've followed, and I always remember her because she knew about Rene Simard (iconic cheesy French Canadian 70's star) and I still giggle that she would even talk about that.

LiveAColourfulLife - okay, she's JUST at 300 followers. She's the sweetest woman, but has a nasty selvedge habit. She makes the cutest pin cushions, all theme related. I love reading her blog, and she always takes the time to comment on mine.

I've got a million more on the list, and I've really really struggled with this list. I hate to leave people out. Hate it. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or make them think I like them any less compared with someone else. I hate following rules. I should just print out my blog reader list and you can have at it.

I like this award because it's showing off some interesting pepole out there, kind of like the little village shop, as opposed to the big box store.

Sure, the popular ones have posts everyday, but I always like reading my regular everyday peeps the best. And for some reason, my everyday peeps feel like friends. You know who you are. ;-)

Word of advice..

1. Buy apple juice, gingerale, pepto, gravol, when you see the flu rampaging in your house. You,yourself, are not invincible from it. Do not think otherwise.

The family flu struck our house this week. It was glorious and colourful.

It started with Ethan, and hit very suddenly. My husband was heading for a 4 day work function at a ski resort the next day. He made it an hour out of the city and headed home...he got hit with it. And then came Cameron and myself. I was in my glory thinking smugly how we had evaded the thing. I was even at the pharmacy and grocery store.... no, we don't need any extra juice, pepto, gravo.... I can just pick that up another time. the boys seem to be on the mend.

And then it found me in the wee hours of the morning. Suddenly and swiftly. oh how I needed that apple juice now....

nothing like your 5 year old screaming at you because you don't respond fast enough in making his morning strawberry milk. Apparantly, pouring the milk only, and running to bed to quit the nausea and dizziness is not allowed. Cam then got hit that same morning with the flu.

We were quite a family.

(It's slowly passing, taking a bit to regain strength. Just when you think you're better, it reminds you with a bit of nausea or fatigue that it's not quite over. but i did lose 4 pounds. is that wrong to celebrate?)

I've been inspired by this one image I found of a lego sticker pack. I thought it would make a great start to a lego quilt series. I've got a few sketeches that need to be worked out.

Also on my wall, I plunked (really...plunked is a word) up my bee blocks that I have received back so far from my group. I asked for rectangle in rectangle blocks using my Katie Jump Rope stash.

It should make for a pretty cool quilt when it's all ready to go. I wanted it to be a wall hanging for my sewing space. We'll see what happens.

Making mojo...

How do you make sewing mojo? Can someone give me the recipe please?

Actually, I totally know the parts that are affecting me:

1. New home with 'jobs' that should be tackled...e.g. painting, ripping out other bathroom, carpeting, flooring....

2. WIP's that should get finished and are still hanging around weighing heavily on me.

3. Sewing Bees - one is over. Another one, there's still a bit to go.

Sewing Bees - I know some of you are in many bees. I joined two for fun in 2010. While I really did like learning some new blocks, this has greatly affected my impromptu sewing mojo. When I get an idea and have it drawn out and want to play with it....the sewing bee block package stares at me. Make me. You have a deadline. you need to get it done. And then, poof, the mojo is gone. I won't be joining any bees for 2011. I will finish my committment for the one I currently am in, but that's it.

WIP's - how do you cope with these? I have a bunch. do I just toss them aside and work on l'idee du jour? (idea of the day)

On your marks, get set...

I have no profound thoughts or reflections to make today... no look backs at projects I've done, accomplishments I've achieved. I have loved looking at everyone else's...wow, it's amazing what is out there. While the first 1/2 of 2010 was awesome and so wonderful for my quilting, the second 1/2 of the year tanked. Understandably...

I still plan on working with solids as much as I can, and make some of my drawings become real life, but also allow myself to use patterns; create for the love of colour and design, not for the need of more blog readers, popularity, or comments. (but please comment, it's such a high to see that email from you!)

I know 2011 will be outstanding. I feel hopeful, inspired, and ready to make this a far better year, consistently... I feel hopeful to experience this:

Zest, Passion, JOY.

I have started another blog based on my goal to be a runner. It is not quilt based, nor life/family stories, but strictly health, running, diabetes, and personal process related. I hope not to fail. My goal is to be able to run 5km by the time I'm 40, on May 20. At the moment, I'm not sure I can run even 5 meters without panting. It will have photos, ugly and beautiful, to document the pain and the victory. Now only if I can peel my behind off this chair and start the process!!!

On my mind...

Some days I stare out the window and lose myself in my thoughts...

Solids...

Sewing...

Friends...

Health...

New Year...

New Ideas...

New Beginnings...

Do you start to ponder and reflect at the end of the year too?

On my doorstep...

Connecting Threads purchase - cyber Monday sale - 50% off

I got almost 100 fq's for 50 dollars.

They're very soft, they have a slight sheen to them, and I know I will make good use of them. Kona cottons appear to be slightly thicker.

I will report back on the sewing side of the fabric when I get to it. For now they are mine...uh... well, they're actually dh's, because he's wrapping them up and gifting them to me.

He has the easiest job ever...seriously. I even shop for myself to help him out at Christmas.

I know a few anonymous people from my original post asking about CT were not thrilled with the fabric quality, but when I read AmandaJean's post a few days later, I read all of the comments about their thoughts about CT and most were pretty positive, so I thought for 50 dollars, I'd take a gamble on this amazing sale.

I wish I knew who the anonymous people were. Why are you anonymous? I truly value your opinion, and when you are anonymous, it makes me feel like we have a secret relationship. I start to fantasize about this....maybe Martha Stewart really IS reading my blog. Maybe it's some uber cool european designer waiting to pounce on my talents.

...Maybe it's John Travolta....oh that's a different fantasy.

on my wall...

ready to be basted and quilted...

details to follow.

New on my bookshelf...

I must say that blogs are what really got me inspired to quilt and keep quilting...but Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr's The Modern Quilt Workshop really really got me inspired. So when I heard there was another book coming out, I just had to order it.

Quilts Made Modern is their newest book. It's in my hands now.

If you go to their blog Craft Nectar and scroll through pages 2 and 3 (way better photos than AI could ever take!), you will get an idea of most of the patterns in the book. I like them all...what I like about the book, is that it gives you colour variations and shows how different colour combos will affect the pattern.

I'm going through a phase right now of quilt design burnout. I'm on a wave of not wanting to design my own anymore, and just relax and use the gorgeous patterns that everyone else has worked on. I think this is truly getting in the way of enjoying quilting right now. I sit there and stare at my fabric and the ideas just aren't flowing. And then I think...who am I trying to be? I'm not trying to become a quilt designer. Why can't I use someone else's pattern? That's why they MAKE patterns! What a silly concept... sometimes I think blogland unintentionally gives that pressure. (perhaps it's actually home renovation burnout and I'm just lashing out at my creativity slump)

This book caters to my love of simple and clean design, and has beautiful patterns to feed that need.

The other two books that I am really interested in are Elizabeth Hartman's The Practical Guide to Patchwork (I wonder if it is overrated and it is more how to than patterns. I'll need to see for myself, I guess) and my all time favourite solids designer, Cherri House's City Quilts.

Actually...I think I'm going to go buy me some Cherri House right now. She inspires me.

**thank you for your feedback on Connecting Threads fabric. I won't order for now, there was a definate consensus on the quality. If you have any positive feedback, feel free to let me know. As for the threads, my favourite is Aurifil, and after numerous terrorist -like attacks of thread on my machine, I found Aurifil to be the one to keep the peace. I won't waver from it now ;-)

Connecting Threads

I was shopping online at Connecting Threads. Have you bought anything from here?
Solids are 3.96/yard, they have a great selection of basics and prints. Some really cute dots and stripes.
Shipping is free with purchases over 50.00 .

And CANADIANS, you know how expensive it is here. If you purchase over 50.00 at Connecting Threads, shipping is only 7.00 . It doesn't matter how much you buy...you don't have to worry about fitting it in an envelope. It's 7.00 They charge a 10% tax/duty fee on top of that. I still think that is an incredible deal.

There are some prints and solids on clearance for 2.96/yard. Kits are 50% off.

I've heard the thread is good too.

Have you bought any of the fabric/thread there? What do you think of the quality?
I'm planning on doing a big order and have done the math.
Local fabric shop here sells Konas for 8.95/meter. Add 12% tax to that. So let's round it to 10.00/yard.
I'd get about 6 yards for the 60.00 I'd spend at Connecting Threads.

At connecting threads, I'd get just over 12 yards of fabric for 60.00. That's if I bought the 3.96/yard solids.

Wow.

Bathroom Reno..

We knew there was some work to do on the house when we moved in... painting has been ongoing here and is almost done. Just a few more rooms to go. The bathroom was a biggie, one that we are just not experienced enough to tackle.

**insert cheesy sixties disco ambient music now...

Before:

Gorgeous sauna siding....

Yes, that's a yellow toilet, yellow sink, and yellow tub.

We didn't want anything fancy or upscale - just something up to date, clean, white and energy efficient. (That toilet tank took about 5 minutes to fill!)

When the contractors came to gut and reno...we found moisture damage...and HOW! The subfloor that was put in under the lino was fibre board - which totally sucks up moisture like a sponge.

After:

no decor yet...this is bare bones ...

toilet hasn't even been peed in yet in this photo!

We put up one of those curved shower rods for our bath - what a HUGE difference in space it makes when taking a shower! highly recommended.

Onto sewing related posts next time... promise ;-)

sunset...

First dusting of snow on the mountains... this was a spectacular sunset a couple of days ago(this is facing north east, however) Everything was reddish pink..

Ikea finds...

I've discovered that fabric shopping in Vancouver is worse than in Edmonton. Well...unless I want to travel 45 minutes. not.

I was looking for some Kona solids for backing my new quilt, and couldn't find the right gray. I didn't want to wait for up to 3 weeks for an online order to come in. I'm so impatient, I need instant gratification. I decided to head to Ikea and check out what kind of fabric and sheets they had.

Grey isn't easy. But I did find a charcoal twin sheet, 100% cotton, for 14,99 which I'll use. It's just a backing right?

On my maze through the aisles (and experiencing almost pedestrian rage as this woman and her cart stopped dead in front of me, in the middle of the aisle to start TEXTING for pete's sake. This is Ikea...do they not know I'm racing through so I can get the $1 hot dog deal at the end?)

I came across this whimsical fabric. They come on mini bolts - 47" x 118"

They are 100% cotton.

I bought two bolts - they kind of 'go' together. The characters are the same, the themes are slightly different.

I giggled looking through the different bolts. Do you know how awkward it is to

be a 6 foot tall woman, wearing a bright red coat, giggling at bolts of fabric? ya.

Some of it was worthy of giggling though.... no words needed here..oh how I love the Swedes!

(if you need me to explain, just email me privately LOL)

such a sweet duck, look at his boxers!

all of the characters are riding on different items, like teacups, shoes, cupcake liners...chairs!

The bolts of fabric were 9.99 each, and there were about 5-6 different kinds.

Now run, scurry, hurry!!! Go to Ikea! Buy some fabric! Send the kids to the SmalLand and take your hubby out for a date night at Ikea! Dinner tonight is only 1.99! Breakfast tomorrow is $1!