Friday, February 19, 2010

IT LOOKS LIKE BAR CODES


Monday was Family Day in Ontario. The goverment put this into effect 3 years ago because there isn't a break from Christmas till Easter. Hence , Family Day.


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So on Monday we had a big Pizza lunch at our house with grand kids in attendance for Nana's homemade Pizza. Salads, fruits and home made cookies for dessert.


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I made this quilt last spring and since I'm feeling spring in the air as opposed to autumn for the Aussies, I thought I'd set a bright table.



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Remember when I tidied up my sewing room in January and cut all kinds of 2 1/2" and 3" strips? Well, my neighbour Mary's daughter had a birthday and I said I'd make her a quilt...

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I had all these strips already cut out, so the top went together in an afternoon almost. Very simple, but I just made the strippie a bit different.

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My sweetie looked at it and said "it looks like bar codes!" Now why oh why did I ask him what he thought? I should have known better but silly me I had to ask.


Then, of course, it's what I had to call it as the name stuck in my head.
The back is all in white. Plain and very effective I think.

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It measures 43" X 65" which is perfect for a lap quilt. The beauty of these is that the back may be made with 45" yardage although I used a single percale sheet.

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I have also sent off today my nine patch to Australia for Illene's quilt. I don't know when it will get there as I was talking to my friend Helen who mailed a quilt to the Irish Flood relief and she has been tracking it for about 6 weeks and it's still not arrived in Ireland! I think my little envelope will get to Aussie land before her's gets to Ireland.

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Olympics are taking over my life! So exciting to watch all of it and cheering on the participants. Did I ever tell you of my mogul experience? No? Okay, I'll give you the short version!

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It was, maybe my third time up a chair lift skiing with the kids, who are all teen age dare devils at the time and were so happy that I was skiing! Specific instructions were given, "go left when you get off the chair" but the groves that I got in were to the right.

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As I started down the hill, I noticed all these bumps....I thought "what the H....! and then I hit a couple of bumps, I started to speed up as I tried to avoid first this bump only to hit the other beside it. I can hear my kids who are going up the chair cheering me on and let me tell you, my knees weren't together and neither were arms!

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I finally fell, thinking that a ski pole had entered my chest, I lay there in absolute agony! My oldest son comes up to me finally, and I tell him that I think the pole went into my chest....."No, mom, it's your cigarette package", but he commented that people on the lift were shouting to each other saying " Look at that crazy woman doing moguls....which one?...the one in the bright lime green ski suit!"

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I asked my son who the hell would put bumps like that on a ski hill.....yep they're called moguls. I never turned right again on that hill. I also gave up cigarettes.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A MENNONITE QUILT!

This lovely Mennonite quilt was bought by my friend Helen. Her husband spotted the quilt in a little shop outside of London Ontario.


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Helen said her husband had to convince her to buy it! Imagine that!

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It's hand appliqued, and of course all the hand quilting has different patterns around the appliques.

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If you click on the photo the hand quilting and applique is fabulous!

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I have done a bit of sewing but the Olympics which we get all day long are just rivoting and yesterday for the opening day of Curling, you would have thought it was the gold medal round as Canada beat Norway 5-4. The Norweigans have clown pants...honestly we were joking about the elephants must be just outside the arena!


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Today is bridge day, so not much sewing is happening . I am so feeling that we are approaching spring! I don't know why that is, maybe it's all the vitamin d I've been taking. I feel energized.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

HOW DO YOU DO IT?


See the photo there, well it's on my sidebar also. We have been asked to
make a nine patch block to help Illene and her daughter who are going through some extreme hardships...
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Click on the icon on the sidebar and see if you are interested in making a small donation to the cause.
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Now, I have said in a previous post that my journey into the stitch in the ditch has not been quite successful. I have a Janome 6600 which states just put the attachment on, and away I go!
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Well, it's not working for me. Yesterday after having a great lunch at Helen's ....Julia Child's French Onion Soup etc....so yummy by the way, that Helen who has an embroidery Janome says that she uses an attachment specifically for in the ditch and finds it better than the Janome instructions.
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I think that she has the right idea! As I looked at my machine this morning however, I wonder if I can get the darn thing on as I have this "tongue" that is sticking out the back of the machine. I may give it a shot on my old machine...darn, I do love sewing at a sewing table as it's the right height.
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I don't want to complicate matters, but what exactly are those tongues (for lack of a better word) for?
I may take a photo and post it just to get the right instructions.
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Today is The Great American Race, Daytona 500, so I won't be sewing but will be glued to the tv to watch the race. My sweetie is already watching the pre pre race line up and the news of the day..
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I noted while visiting Bejeweled Barb this morning that they've had a small hurricane go through Samoa. Her photos were really good! I was sure, except for a couple of freeky earthquakes that she was living on a paradise Island! Still is a lot better than the cold of Canada , but check her out today!
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Happy Valentines to all of you loving bloggers.
My sweetie gave me my roses, but best of all a card that says it all about love...