Pieces of Me

My Dad & I,  this past October. He's 85 and going strong!

Below are Phil, Danny & CJ at the Drumheller valley edge.

It's been so long since I've been here that I almost forgot how to post! 

(I will admit that I'm finding myself at a bit of a loss for words.)

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I have pieced a couple of quilts over the past few months but I only have pics of this one.

I believe it's Buggy Barn for the backing.

I hope some of you are still around out there,

I'd like to reconnect and gain some advice!

See you soon :)

Kept in Stitches!

I've been doing some sewing and stitching this week.

First up, the sweet Fox showing off her new flannel quilt for those chilly winter evenings.

Of course it's all pinks and flowers here and the backing is pink gingham, 

she's a girlie girl!

 Up next, the progress on my youngest's request of the infamous

"GRUMPY CAT"

I just saw a piece on the computer, this cat has earned an astounding $100 million!!!

Cute kitty but something is seriously wrong when this can happen in a world so completely

out of whack! Just putting it out there, that's all.

cross stitch chart is courtesy of  Brooke's Books

available on her site under freebies  ")

Maybe Carli can give Grumpy Cat a run for her money?

Calsberg (as she has been tagged) loves to cover herself with newspapers and now throw mats.

This one she "turtled" out of our bedroom and into the kitchen!

These new additions to our family keep us all in stitches!

until next time,

HAPPY STITCHING  ")

How Come I'm...

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Can you guess why?

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Ho Hum Tweedle Dum

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This was yesterday, Bullet patiently waiting for spring.

 No, that's not an icicle hanging from her lip, she's

getting a little older and this end leaks every once in a while!

(Better than the other end!!)

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HOWEVER, 

today is a different story and scene!

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This is the same doorway that was void of snow less than 12 hours ago!

How's that for accumulation? Note,

no pup sitting, watching the world today!

She's snoring away at the moment.

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HOWEVER,

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I am pleased to report that progress is being made!

WOOHOO!!!

This quilt is not leaving my machine until it is fin.

Maybe this afternoon?

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HOWEVER,

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This needs to be dealt with (ugh)...

I found it under a pile of fabric along with my near complete PIFs!

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The grass has riz!!

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Looks like we made it ... finally!

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Remember this?

 No? 

That's OK, it's been shown a few times but nothing has happened, 

it is sandwiched and pinned so there's no more excuses!

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If spring could show it's face after all this waiting then certainly can get this quilted !!

Tomorrow will be pictures of a quilt, quilted or at the very least progress pics ;)

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Happy Stitching :)

HI !!

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Marlene, from STITCHIN BY THE LAKE  

has invited me to share a little bit 

about myself during 

"I Want to Get to Know You".

So here goes,

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I'm a wife of 15+ years to my #1 guy,

we have 2 fantastic boys together, 

I am  step mom to #1's first born which is a bit comical (I'm 49 my stepson is 37),

I'm  Grams to 2 gorgeous grandchildren,

I'm a foster mom to 2 kiddos too.

Before wearing all these hats, I thoroughly enjoyed the creativity offered to me through goldsmithing.

I began my apprenticeship with my Father, a journeyman himself, at 16 when I left high school.

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The tools of my trade.

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I am going back into this field later this year, all plans falling into place.

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Obviously, I love sewing and quilting has become a passion over the past

few years. I made my very first quilt 30 years ago and then had a super long hiatus,

I'm talking about a 20 year hiatus. When my oldest was born 11 years ago, I

  attempted  to sew a couple of quilts without any clue as to what I was doing!

It has only been the last 5 years that I have managed to sew more quilts and learn so

much by way of the internet and the scores of amazing blogs out there.

I have recently been part of the blog hop world and I am involved with a 

Doll Quilt Swap that has been loads of fun.

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I also enjoy 

reading murder mysteries, 

 watching murder mysteries,

the styles of the the 1920s and 30s,

and

almost every type of music out there!

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Thank you, Marlene, for allowing me to share in the chatter over the fence today.

Thank you to those that pop in for a visit, I hope you drop back often.

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HAPPY STITCHING!

I've Shown You Mine...UPDATE ADDED

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I've shown you mine,

now show me yours! (If you want) ;D

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It's a To - Do List, It's A Linky Party, It's Going To Be Down Right Fun!

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***"UPDATE HERE!"***

Don't laugh too much but, for the second month now I've finished up my DQS,

packaged and labelled it and popped it in the mail,

and forgot to take a picture!

I'm hoping that when it arrives at it's destination (which should be any day now)

I can get a pic (I'm such a Homer (SIMPSON)!

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 January blocks for my Northwinds quilt brought to you by the 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013 (RSC2013).

These make up some good size blocks, 12 1/2" , so this should come together

fairly quick, I hope all going well!

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Below is another block for the RSC2013 but just for kicks,

I may make this into a pillow.

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This is also some fiddling about that could find life on the back of my Northwinds

or on the table as the start to placemats for my crew.

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As my fingers fly stumble across the keyboard to have this post up,

I'm telling myself that I will get Mill House Inn quilted today come hell or high water!

Or in our case...

come the second "-43C, way to friggin' cold for the school bus to even start" day followed by

a teacher's day tomorrow!

My darlings have a 5 day weekend! 

So without further ado, I'm off to quilt and, all going well, I'll be able to add

this to the finished pile!

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The last thing on my list was to organize a pincushion swap.

I've seen quite a few of these going on, so for now I think I'll shelf this idea for the time being.

I'm not completely sure of how to go about putting a swap together,

any suggestions would be appreciated.

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I guess I didn't do too bad and I did finish some things that were not on my list.

February will be better! :)

Until the 28th of February then,

HAPPY STITCHING!

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Thearica over at Pig Tales and Quilts  

is going to keep the motivated from the get go!

What will you gain?

The accountability to yourself to get those pesky things done and start something new,

maybe challenge yourself to jump in with both feet and try that project you've been tempted to do but have held back. Well now's the time to give it a shot

I'm not quite as adventurous as Thearica with 5 but I think 4 projects is doable for me.

Sew...what about you? Are you up for a personal challenge? This is so much easier

than some of those new years resolutions I've tried and failed at over the years!!

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2012 CHRISTMAS QUILT SHOW

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2012 CHRISTMAS QUILT SHOW

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This year I decided to do something a little different for my entry.

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This pillow pattern was presented to a group of quilters/crafters as part of hop

by Jill Finley of Jillily Studio.

(see my previous post...there's a giveaway there!)

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I had so much free reign with it and added my own flare through FMQ in the sky with lots of swirling movement and on many of the houses with texture and details.

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My ghostly snowman could be from winter's past.

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Houses have been appliqued with Santas and wreaths for added festive flavour.

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See the icicles hanging from the window panes? Brrrrr

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I added sparkling lights to 2 of the houses with more FMQ.

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It's a wonderful pattern, very easy to do and can be changed up to be personalized in so many ways.

Why not link up your seasonal/holiday project and join the fun at the 

2012 Christmas Quilt Show.

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click the link at the top of this post and be transported to the entire list of participants,

Oh yes, just in case you're interested...there's Prizes!!!

Just sayin'  ;O)

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Look Out...I'm ready to EXPLODE!!

Excuse me for this but

I am so pissed off right now I'm about ready to scream

or throw my machine out the front door!

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"Why, Carolyn, what's the matter?"

you maybe asking.

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This! This has been happening for the past three hours!

I quilt along, everything is fine then all of a sudden my machine

(whose name is Mud, right now) starts this.

Out comes the GrimRipper and we spend some time together.

I rethread, check bobbin case, take any little bit of fuzz and pluck it out,

say a prayer and try again.

Just when I'm feeling rather confident and think that,

"Yes, I will have this ready to take on Monday to my Granddaughter"!

Wait for it....

more of the same!!! Grrrrr!!!

I have a question for those in the know,

do the BOBBIN WASHERS help eliminate this from happening?

How's your math?

Do you whiz through the calculations for a project without a problem?

OR

Do you use the method of

"this should be enough...I think"

only to find out that it wasn't?

If this gal is you then you'll appreciate this class

Lily's Quilts

(click here)

and be whisked away to a world of knowledge and enlightenment.

Who couldn't use some fine tuning with the basics or learn a whole new technique,

which I am always up for myself!

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NewFOs for September

My  NEWFOs  for the month of September are a little sparse

but that's due to the fact that I need  to get some p.i.g.s

just plain finished!

However, this months offerings are

Archie and all his friends are destine for my hubby's lap,

now I'm not the only one working on this, in fact I'm more of the background noise,

my 8 year old is tackling this for his Dad's birthday, December 1st!

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I'm stitching up a few paper piece blocks to use in a couple of projects for the

upcoming month.

Designs for these 2 blocks can be found at

SONJA CALLAGHAN @ ARTISANIA

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Lastly, this quilt which I won the pattern during the Dots On Dots Blog Hop

from the ever so wonderful

CINDY @ QUILT DOODLE DESIGNS

This quilt design is called 

"LAUNDRY DAY"

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Sew there you have it, my September lineup for the

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I'm also putting feelers out for any interest in a

PIN CUSHION SWAP

(start date probably January 2013)

if you think you may want to join in just let me know.

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HAPPY STITCHING  :O)

Randomness, a question and a modification

You could say it's been a wee bit damp in these parts,

this "growth" was growing in the front lawn.  The neighbour has all kinds of

mushrooms coming up all over his lawn as well.

It's clouds like this that's been bringing the rain and a few mini funnel clouds.

The cloud bank is starting to descend on the church,

there's a couple of bats living in the church belfry!

Our's is a small village of 170 peeps.

How many peeps live in your village, town, city,

where ever you hang your hat?

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How's this for really gross?

Does anyone have a suggestion for getting this poor iron cleaned off?

I know it's a mess and maybe it's time to turn this into a paper weight

but I'm hoping I can save it and squeeze a little more life out of her.

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I wanted to share this discovery with you,

it may be a big help to you while quilting!

Do you have a plastic quilting foot for your machine?

Does it have a closed oval/circle where the needle moves through?

Do you find that you can't see your work all that well?

If you cut out part of the plastic from the foot and file the edges smooth

you have a foot that you can actually see where you're going and what you're doing

before and during the time you're quilting. I have found that since I modified my

quilting foot, I have much better control and much better success!

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Today I'm guiding my foster daughter towards the completion of her very first

doll quilt sew we'll see you later!

Have a stitchin' day!

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