tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423959700261878272024-03-12T22:10:46.354-07:00The Zodiac QuilterMostly quilting with a little bit of astrology, vegetarian cooking, small town life and cats thrown in.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-21664144596499435262017-02-11T17:04:00.002-08:002017-02-11T17:04:57.376-08:00Snowy Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not much of a winter person, which is the reason we no longer live in the beautiful northern part of British Columbia, where you get "eight months of winter and four months of tough sledding." But let's face it, if you live in Canada, you're going to see snow at least once a year.<br />
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The west coast is sure getting walloped with the white stuff this month - BC, Washington and Oregon. Way more snow than I need to see! Now that I'm retired, at least I don't have to drive in it if I don't want to, but we still need to keep our driveway clear in case we want to ... say ... go to the grocery store and such.<br />
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I've shovelled it three times in the past two days because it's easier to shovel three or four inches at a time than to wait and shovel 10 inches at once. A lot of people around here don't shovel. They count on it melting before they need to get out of their driveway, but that doesn't always happen. Many of them also drive pickup trucks, so they can drive over anything.<br />
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The southwestern part of the province - Vancouver and the surrounding cities - which we call the Lower Mainland, sure got a huge dump of snow last week. They're measuring it in feet, not inches, and they're all quite traumatized. They aren't used to seeing that much, and the cities aren't equipped to deal with it, either. On top of it all, they had freezing rain last night and all of the main highways connecting the Lower Mainland to every other part of the province were closed, leaving travellers stranded. Oh, the joys of winter!<br />
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The sun came out this morning, so I grabbed my camera and headed to the backyard for some pictures. Fresh snow does look pretty, I'll admit. And the temperature rose to above zero Celsius this afternoon, which means that it's been melting. It's supposed to be getting warmer tomorrow and the day after, so I'm expecting it to be all gone by the end of next week. I am beyond tired of shovelling snow and freezing my hands! On the other hand, I'm spending lots of time at my sewing machine.<br />
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Still, I'd rather be spending time in my garden. I've ordered all of my vegetable seeds and I keep looking out the window for signs of Spring. I know that my Snowdrops are sitting under a pile of snow, waiting for that first encouraging ray of sunshine to spring out of the ground. They're always blooming by the last week of February.<br />
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So, enough of Winter. Hello Spring! Until next time,<br />
Wendy<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-46083723003979134522017-01-02T16:14:00.002-08:002017-01-02T16:14:36.625-08:00The bad part of holidays...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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... is that eventually we all have to get back to work in some form or fashion. Not that being a cat in my house is hard work, but some of us just want to put off facing reality for as long as we can! No new kitty toys under the tree this year. In fact, no tree at all this year - no tree to chew on and knock ornaments off of.<br />
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Mr. ZQ and I simplified our lives this year and left the tree in the box and the presents in the stores. But we enjoyed more visitors than usual, with neighbours and family members dropping in.<br />
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The old year wasn't a bad one for us. I suppose we've had better years, but this one turned out to be mostly pleasant. I retired in February from my job of 14 years and my profession of nearly 40. After a few months off I ran for election to town council and won. I was able to spend most of my time outside working in my garden or yard, instead of in the office sitting in front of a computer. Money started to become a problem towards the end of the year as unexpected bills rolled in and there was no regular paycheque to take care of them, but that's all getting sorted out now. Life is good.<br />
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That pretty snowfall that I mentioned in my last post turned into a nasty winter storm by evening with screaming winds from the north. The next day - New Years Day - we were left with snowdrifts of up to two feet high in places, like between our cars. I didn't have any place to go that day but I went out to shovel the <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxumsjR0y92vx_qJb4V57-Mo75Tg1kBObFCEY2ULt-y1c7cQqusoUjdoQaj3cxdhtoeurlFxI6ciQ8LjgUX3db95M9YUuJWTHQGTHuQtHnwYlTqZNl7sMEN1QVPWQOSXat12rU1Np-8/s1600/17Jan2bags3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxumsjR0y92vx_qJb4V57-Mo75Tg1kBObFCEY2ULt-y1c7cQqusoUjdoQaj3cxdhtoeurlFxI6ciQ8LjgUX3db95M9YUuJWTHQGTHuQtHnwYlTqZNl7sMEN1QVPWQOSXat12rU1Np-8/s320/17Jan2bags3.jpg" width="213" /></a>snow away anyway - because this is Canada and it's what we do. I had to go out anyway to refill the bird feeders and to clear a pathway to the backyard for this old stray cat that likes to sleep in our backyard against a cement retaining wall. He's an old tabby with only one eye and he walks with a limp, and our neighbour across the street takes care of him by feeding him and giving him a warm place to sleep in his carport - our neighbour takes care of all the strays on the street - but he doesn't let anyone near him. If he hears me moving around or hears my voice, he'll get up and </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUL6Pc2Gub3tOqngFq7XCwuA_CsHhSZXzCH73Tc7DUQI_afXcuu2q8rBgjkN0T4htuMz1rJ6QIPwxmh_g4hDtmI1UO8md2ukGBIVYLWkIGQxBXFIZjQO7sLxww1ZZE7fs8o6vEQr35XE/s1600/17Jan2bags5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUL6Pc2Gub3tOqngFq7XCwuA_CsHhSZXzCH73Tc7DUQI_afXcuu2q8rBgjkN0T4htuMz1rJ6QIPwxmh_g4hDtmI1UO8md2ukGBIVYLWkIGQxBXFIZjQO7sLxww1ZZE7fs8o6vEQr35XE/s320/17Jan2bags5.jpg" width="213" /></a>leave. On the day of the snowstorm, he was sleeping in his soft nest of alfalfa against the wall where I could see him from our back door. It was a really nice day before it started snowing. He didn't get up at noon as he normally did to walk across the street for his lunch, and the light snow was starting to accumulate on him. He was still there a couple of hours later as the snow and wind were starting to pick up so I went out on our deck, thinking the noise of me stamping my feet and clapping my hands would be enough to wake him up and get him moving on his way, but it wasn't. So I got out the spare food dish and the emergency bag of Whiskas that I keep at the back of the refrigerator for </div>
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emergencies and went outside to see if I could roust him. The weather was getting quite nasty by then </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiJzF2xXGciws4asDV3Dt89Faifesv2Kx84jcqIk8TQRXm_lI1Dy_VPwL8DVzhOecFprPF3NoiGASjptwVxbVmGhqNIk-2_61TP1-KDXibHNQUhc8hy7cFRICTShNpGjjxn0FxFlaqxI/s1600/17Jan2bags7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiJzF2xXGciws4asDV3Dt89Faifesv2Kx84jcqIk8TQRXm_lI1Dy_VPwL8DVzhOecFprPF3NoiGASjptwVxbVmGhqNIk-2_61TP1-KDXibHNQUhc8hy7cFRICTShNpGjjxn0FxFlaqxI/s320/17Jan2bags7.jpg" width="213" /></a>and I got to within inches of him with the food before he woke up. He immediately ran for the nearest shelter, which was only a couple of feet away - the old set of wooden stairs from our deck that was leaning against the retaining wall. At least it would protect him from the snow. I shoved the bowl of food towards where I thought he was and went back into the house. When I looked out the backdoor, I saw him eating the food. I saw him today, walking towards our house from the neighbours', and was happy that I had shovelled the deep snow out of the way for him, making him a pathway to the old wooden stairs, and that's where he went. Tough old guy.</div>
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In my last post, I mentioned that these little <a href="https://www.helenheath.com/sites/default/files/knotbaginstructions1.pdf">Japanese Knot Bags</a> were addictive and fun to make. Here are more that I made. I began putting embellishments on them, also. Just a little bit, on one of the handles. They aren't really noticeable at first, the way embellishments probably should be, but I haven't been doing this for very long. There are stars on some, diamonds, bright metal, burnished metal, etc. At least I got the last few on straight! Those round bottoms might lend themselves nicely to some soft fringes in the future, or some cording.</div>
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I made a couple of special ones, as well - one for myself! and another one using a wool lining.</div>
Unfortunately, the one with the wool lining and the blue and white batik print didn't turn out so well. I didn't realize until after I'd finished it that my sewing machine tension decided to have its own fun and go skipping! So it became my bag, and the one I made for myself with the bright red cardinals and the gorgeous Laurel Burch tree lining became someone else's. I may have mentioned before how much I love Laurel Burch's designs. Well, I have lots more - probably more than I should. I have lots of the wool left, as well, and I can wait for a time when the sewing machine is behaving itself before I try this again. I've worked on the tension for days and days, adjusting the knobs, cleaning the bobbin area, replacing the bobbin and needles, changing the thread, changing the fabric... It doesn't seem logical, but sometimes it work and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know if there is any solution other than patience. Just like this dumb blogger interface - just when I think I've got the hang of it, it gets all screwy again.<br />
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And with that, I'm off until you see me again! Until next time,<br />
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Wendy<br />
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-66847809492286186502016-12-31T16:04:00.001-08:002016-12-31T16:04:42.381-08:00Looking forward to 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It's snowing today in my town. The lower par of the province has had
huge amounts (for them) of snow this month, but all we've gotten so far was a long spell of
cold, nasty weather, which was bad enough. It's not the temperature that's the problem here so much as the
winds that lower the temperatures by as much as 10 degrees. E</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ven though it's snowing now, there's very little
wind and so the temperature is quite mild.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So I've restocked the bird feeder and put out some fresh
apples that the house finches, flickers and blackbirds like. The goldfinches
flock to the "sock" filled with nyger seed, and as I type this I an see a downy
woodpecker in the tree next door. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5OmBzKrcyIyXf14Mr3msMUcV_jMSWbGm6mt6u8hRi8Yd3ZIGPMKZkaXS-mzoxqonLGbX0KL9VJGwkG0grtZ80FLK71GlrLyAE_OPEG0-_wH_aMW5L5aIM4U3TC22xUDqjR7bSmzfOEM/s1600/16Dec31b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5OmBzKrcyIyXf14Mr3msMUcV_jMSWbGm6mt6u8hRi8Yd3ZIGPMKZkaXS-mzoxqonLGbX0KL9VJGwkG0grtZ80FLK71GlrLyAE_OPEG0-_wH_aMW5L5aIM4U3TC22xUDqjR7bSmzfOEM/s320/16Dec31b.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
My parents were enthusiastic amateur birders. I was never interested in them all that much, even though I grew up within a
90-minute drive of Point Pelee National Park - a birders' paradise. We used to go
there often - for family drives, to visit friends in nearby Leamington or on
school fieldtrips. As my parents would scan the trees for interesting birds, my
oldest brother and I would follow along with our eyes glued to the ground,
looking for the beautiful native ephemerals and other unique woodland flowers of
southern Ontario.</span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">bout 11 years ago a few people began a Christmas Bird
Count in this area and I went along to see if there was something I could use in
the </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VxZQijDLc7u3sUGLU9KDp70Y8PnEG2sDV8rqxZuqUoFxqZdUszB_12s_eAHntpMTR45TebIy1Nmf0EppA5d2zIPeRQf-GIGw-8DJkpA017GzafS6U0eH7W8LKb9115nEtl-z3IAfKyQ/s1600/16Dec31c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VxZQijDLc7u3sUGLU9KDp70Y8PnEG2sDV8rqxZuqUoFxqZdUszB_12s_eAHntpMTR45TebIy1Nmf0EppA5d2zIPeRQf-GIGw-8DJkpA017GzafS6U0eH7W8LKb9115nEtl-z3IAfKyQ/s320/16Dec31c.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
newspaper I worked for. It was fun if one could ignore the frozen fingers
and toes one suffered while tramping through the snow hunting the elusive birds. E</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ventually I bought a copy of Sibleys guide to birds and began
feeding them, as my parents had. I assured my indoor cats that it was for
their own amusement, but I can't deny that I enjoy watching the birds at my
feeders as much as they do.</span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And so on this last day of 2016, the falling snow is
picking up speed and the birds are chattering noisily in the front yard as they elbow
their way to the feeders. A</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">nd I should be at my sewing machine, but instead I am
sitting at my computer while providing a comfortable lap for Rusty - a common
scenario these days.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4oB7VSfiZwDQpkEdoroJoNL6BU8EFyyMT1A2Tq9qUwD2kvPLL2k86P9oE_6RleS3dpHaxRIXJKulgvcWlN6mRJPzjGAn7ylri5sWiapx3Pso2ATV1eEQ-rFHUSvI7Lw83s4JpwEQGvc/s1600/16Dec31d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4oB7VSfiZwDQpkEdoroJoNL6BU8EFyyMT1A2Tq9qUwD2kvPLL2k86P9oE_6RleS3dpHaxRIXJKulgvcWlN6mRJPzjGAn7ylri5sWiapx3Pso2ATV1eEQ-rFHUSvI7Lw83s4JpwEQGvc/s320/16Dec31d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My last post reminded me of something I had forgotten
because I hadn't posted in months - that my new blog interface was a horrible
and clunky thing. It may well have been responsible for my absence from my blog
this year, so I'm hoping that I'll get better as I use it more. It looks
like I may be buying a new computer in the new year since this one seems to be
dying... Which is too bad because I like this computer. It's also such a pain in the neck to switch
all of your files to another computer, and I can't afford a new computer that's
as good as this one, but it's been a good computer for nine years and it doesn't
owe me anything. And perhaps a new computer </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rzkbi5ra9H4YMDgxPPb9fXpCiFhBrs9kKIOO-IubkHCRwRlrrxVfKAbsOjCE9_lYfKaTLGTiM76xuJ4wXKMWzAy8jc7lQfFFi4YnliYFAHOJh4tOrPWWn_8x8YuDeTYZIuiEuS21KqQ/s1600/16Dec31e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rzkbi5ra9H4YMDgxPPb9fXpCiFhBrs9kKIOO-IubkHCRwRlrrxVfKAbsOjCE9_lYfKaTLGTiM76xuJ4wXKMWzAy8jc7lQfFFi4YnliYFAHOJh4tOrPWWn_8x8YuDeTYZIuiEuS21KqQ/s320/16Dec31e.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
will offer a better interface for
blogging.</span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, although I haven't finished anything in two or
three weeks, I have finished quite a few wallets and bags over the summer. I've
made several more of these little <a href="http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/sleek-fabric-wallet-zippered-coin-pouch">wallets</a>, using my experience with the pattern
to fussy cut the fabric in some cases - it's a really nice, attractive, simple
little compact wallet that I enjoy making.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I've also wanted to make this little <a href="https://www.helenheath.com/sites/default/files/knotbaginstructions1.pdf">Japanese knot bag</a> for some time now, and once I got started, I couldn't stop. I just love the rounded
bottoms that provide so much more space in a bag. There's more to making the handles that these instructions describe,
so if you find yourself stumped, just drop me a line and I'll try and help
you. T</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">hese bags are very comfortable to carry and are great
for holding a wallet, pair of glasses, keys </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Jbftrk0EUVJIN2lupcdFQkVt-AceHptn_D301AIB6ApkTS13IGIVYZfqWmpKEgw0ZCO46yKtqPqLoFto_9wF48k9X2Rp3A-75Qb_8UjXdDCZCl4zlnd_nrB-qPYlsUhKtwwAIheYAKg/s1600/16Dec31f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Jbftrk0EUVJIN2lupcdFQkVt-AceHptn_D301AIB6ApkTS13IGIVYZfqWmpKEgw0ZCO46yKtqPqLoFto_9wF48k9X2Rp3A-75Qb_8UjXdDCZCl4zlnd_nrB-qPYlsUhKtwwAIheYAKg/s320/16Dec31f.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
and other small items, and they look
really sharp!</span><br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That's all that I have for today. It's time to start
the macaroni and cheese casserole for supper - an old family recipe that's a big
favourite for days like today. So, my </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">best wishes to all of you for a happy and healthy 2018! I'll see you next year.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wendy</span></div>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-74340222005901230802016-12-21T20:36:00.001-08:002016-12-21T20:36:05.549-08:00<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOnaJMX2dkMmBIHnH4RDQk5llC2ZWnk_Zo-rPxuKQAZVzBRMLmYnDqg3jixFFYBg3z0t1J598yfS-w30wfWr5p9UOGOIIs1PMOyhU1KF_KVDGYuAjVtegASbHK8LHDu7TRTMvJpWQU8o/s1600/16Dec21Rusty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOnaJMX2dkMmBIHnH4RDQk5llC2ZWnk_Zo-rPxuKQAZVzBRMLmYnDqg3jixFFYBg3z0t1J598yfS-w30wfWr5p9UOGOIIs1PMOyhU1KF_KVDGYuAjVtegASbHK8LHDu7TRTMvJpWQU8o/s400/16Dec21Rusty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Happy longest night of the year to
everyone. Snuggle up! The days get longer from hereon in.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. So long, perhaps, that I was
afraid that I might forget how to do this! </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The fact that my computer is dying
doesn’t help me. However, we’ll forge ahead.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc9k9cXaIw-cgBI2Slh2dT0Ewhp5vVLqcG5CtLEQ-LBu4iH0CfVyzNFUp5DJS8H90dhxKwVcgVVac8hZFRX0tzgqulF6tG3yFC-4wZ9G0SQ3A0uOrec4ehrZSKCQxXkJKDZV6J0tSNAU/s1600/16Dec21bag1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc9k9cXaIw-cgBI2Slh2dT0Ewhp5vVLqcG5CtLEQ-LBu4iH0CfVyzNFUp5DJS8H90dhxKwVcgVVac8hZFRX0tzgqulF6tG3yFC-4wZ9G0SQ3A0uOrec4ehrZSKCQxXkJKDZV6J0tSNAU/s320/16Dec21bag1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles7E33B73/16Dec21Rusty[8].jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles7E33B73/16Dec21bag1[7].jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles7E33B73/16Dec21bag2[6].jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles7E33B73/16Dec21bag3[5].jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I may have been absent from my blog, but
life hasn’t slowed down. Being retired only means that I no longer have an
income. Good thing that I built up my stash while I was working. The above
picture is Rusty (of course) making himself a nest in a very small part of my
fabric collection – the part that covers the dining room table. I’m very bad, I
know. I’m trying to use it up as fast as I can, but it doesn’t seem to make a
dent in it.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrki3WhcTHulma7CmI1taeYccu-n4QFvsMWdDxjjDVLEfen1CyvCOizf8ah89lDIRBm5NkNMwrTwfN9Wv-0xfR1zPoMMoFKGgSiNiqfqV3WfxHdbpgD9w9Obp7FlYccyqIkdMX7TcyI4/s1600/16Dec21bag2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrki3WhcTHulma7CmI1taeYccu-n4QFvsMWdDxjjDVLEfen1CyvCOizf8ah89lDIRBm5NkNMwrTwfN9Wv-0xfR1zPoMMoFKGgSiNiqfqV3WfxHdbpgD9w9Obp7FlYccyqIkdMX7TcyI4/s320/16Dec21bag2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
In my spare time from my retirement activities (which I’ll tell you about one
of these days), I’ve been making bags – more bags. I found this pattern from
Around the Bobbin for <a href="http://aroundthebobbin.bigcartel.com/product/annalise-bag-downloadable-pdf-pattern" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc3300;">The Annalise Bag</span></a> over the summer while I was visiting my
brother and his wife on Vancouver Island. It looked like it would be fun to make, and it was! I made a practice bag
– the orange one – before I made one for my sister-in-law, and I was very happy
with the way they went together. I added a couple of pockets for my SIL’s bag,
and included this little zipper pull that used to be an earring. The bags have
given me the opportunity to use up lots of heavy duty “upholstery” fabric that I
buy as cheap remnants. I used linen for the lining of her bag. I also made my
very first yoyo as an embellishment for the front of the bag, and attached it
with a metal “brad” – the circle has two metal prongs on the back that split in
opposite directions. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0GTcCI6Hc_4Dp5-qzWFfxij4WQ7Z-gbLKmDysbvrLzTLBHVlWofae-zl_9c-jmD7c0bVPW5XbPLjB_Mkj7jHHub_2bVujq7oGSRLzu0KxeN4DulGNu3JORzRmHFcJNes3YJTh8hhgSo/s1600/16Dec21bag3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0GTcCI6Hc_4Dp5-qzWFfxij4WQ7Z-gbLKmDysbvrLzTLBHVlWofae-zl_9c-jmD7c0bVPW5XbPLjB_Mkj7jHHub_2bVujq7oGSRLzu0KxeN4DulGNu3JORzRmHFcJNes3YJTh8hhgSo/s320/16Dec21bag3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I was happy with the first two I made, so I did two more. That was, as you
can see from the photos, over the summer. Since then I’ve wandered on to some
different bag patterns. I was hoping to move onto
some baby quilts and other “flat” pieces by now, but finding the time to commit
to them is still hard to come by. In the past three weeks alone, I organized one
indoor market and one Christmas concert, was involved in three more concerts,
and spent today tromping around town looking for birds for our annual Christmas
Bird Count. That was in addition to several other activities I was involved in
as a town councillor, as I was elected to the municipal council back in
June.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Like I said, life hasn’t slowed down any. And I don’t really want it to,
either. It’s slowed down enough that Rusty and Ginger get a lot more lap time,
and I have a bit more time to work in the yard in the summer. I actually got my
vegetables planted on time this year, and planted flowers as well! It was a nice
feeling. I’m hoping that I’ll get back into the habit of blogging as well. It’s
not like I have nothing to blog about! Just as long as my computer keeps
working.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Until next time,</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>
</div>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-90540115804069817772016-03-27T17:00:00.001-07:002016-03-27T17:00:56.882-07:00The real stars<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnD38NepvUlCVhMkVx6a-LNiZomERQ2NANZqQP1eHiFpSEDRAqWWOa553kETbWbSqJOxnb8Wo02SbJcEpxNTgjBE4YJZ-r5hVNL2kuy8DRH3OOPlijk6z_FrsqKKEphk9j0xum4YyVww/s1600/16Easter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnD38NepvUlCVhMkVx6a-LNiZomERQ2NANZqQP1eHiFpSEDRAqWWOa553kETbWbSqJOxnb8Wo02SbJcEpxNTgjBE4YJZ-r5hVNL2kuy8DRH3OOPlijk6z_FrsqKKEphk9j0xum4YyVww/s320/16Easter1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my colours, aren't they?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been spending most of my time outside for the past week because the weather's been so nice. My 500+ tomato seedlings have been enjoying a bit of sunshine each day, but I have to drag them back into the house at night. Today it's been raining and cold. At one point I thought it might do the unthinkable and drop something very unspringlike on us, but it didn't. But I'm sure it made the local Easter Egg Hunts a little uncomfortable. Still, where free candy is concerned, children will bear some lousy weather.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was hoping to get some time at my sewing machine, but I've been spending the day cleaning up. It'll take another year or two of cleaning to get this house straightened up! Or longer when you have <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_j7KCfo3mxwlbhgokIfLEGKGpzJWiz21jwS-au5px78xM-R_PEBnuHgo0hYqBf5TMVyxJKWGlP2H7sS9VTbDldZB9FMSib0cUVqGQbgVZK62k7P4hDFOE3WBFuWXwtmDtzCDrhvNAUk/s1600/16Easter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_j7KCfo3mxwlbhgokIfLEGKGpzJWiz21jwS-au5px78xM-R_PEBnuHgo0hYqBf5TMVyxJKWGlP2H7sS9VTbDldZB9FMSib0cUVqGQbgVZK62k7P4hDFOE3WBFuWXwtmDtzCDrhvNAUk/s320/16Easter3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunshine AND quilt blocks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
helpers like Rusty and Ginger.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was working on a square to go with the sawtooth stars that I made some time ago. The stars were for a quilt for Mr. ZQ's father, who unfortunately passed away unexpectedly before I finished it (Hell could freeze over before I finish ANYTHING!). That happened around this time last year. His mother gave me some of his father's dress shirts to include in the quilt, which I am now making for her.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I made the points for <a href="http://www.quilterscache.com/G/GrandmothersFavoriteBlock.html">this square</a> and it looked so similar to the stars I'd already made that I stopped and rethank my plans. Then I tossed the pieces I'd already made down with the stars and new ideas started coming. So did Ginger and Rusty. I'm not sure whether the ideas <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs68L97_MCikJCep5gQSd9p0O-P-RV4jnLs0UGcFH9KNPnBiVWLVmzG_Lscuye3fVFQhyphenhyphenWGp17TvqQXT9YFIH8F7oUKXBKTBekQRYf41EAJ6GUJ1vallsUGHbYqJtNaeFF-ar3HQGK9I/s1600/16Easter4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs68L97_MCikJCep5gQSd9p0O-P-RV4jnLs0UGcFH9KNPnBiVWLVmzG_Lscuye3fVFQhyphenhyphenWGp17TvqQXT9YFIH8F7oUKXBKTBekQRYf41EAJ6GUJ1vallsUGHbYqJtNaeFF-ar3HQGK9I/s320/16Easter4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could you be mad at a face like this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
are workable, but I'll give them a shot.<br />
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<br />
How do cats know that you're about to focus on an object when they're in a separate room?<br />
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<br />
The weather gnomes say the rest of the week is going to be absolutely beautiful, so I'm not sure how much sewing (or cleaning) I'm going to get done in the next little while, but there's always tomorrow.<br />
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<br />
Our local outdoor farmer and flea market starts up in May - hence the 500+ tomato seedlings and about 100 pepper plants. But I sell other stuff there as well over the course of the summer, much of it things that I've sewn - so I can't spend all of my time playing in the dirt, much as I'd like to. The summers here are usually long and hot - made for being outside. I'd drag my sewing machine out onto the deck if I could. (Well, I could, but then I'd have to drag it back inside every night also.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjCRefpbDCa66fuLpmcsieRxtCG9i4yXszdrrlNSNYs21sYE6guw39H3KR_aeY_3n7er_ePaEcwOiT0WhNMPlpHhdhtmeG57tgvJqzg7QWDQC2Jccvf_JHJ4GERgAx-3YcAUhmRyUIjc/s1600/16Easter5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjCRefpbDCa66fuLpmcsieRxtCG9i4yXszdrrlNSNYs21sYE6guw39H3KR_aeY_3n7er_ePaEcwOiT0WhNMPlpHhdhtmeG57tgvJqzg7QWDQC2Jccvf_JHJ4GERgAx-3YcAUhmRyUIjc/s320/16Easter5.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layout possibility</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-58665382904841504582016-03-10T09:54:00.001-08:002016-03-10T09:54:28.363-08:00Lots of ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptpiTWLdkL7DvtmxzBvUvxCtmmNDBC5_EXfSnRDfU1qgpEehrkiV3iy3KOH_6ZcFP5OW4UzGsN-rGMDCsEi9f2pMMBlw3vUPGzk3kVtObVOBDOTOu1z1HcfSbx_SYrIhzl73FQMCbu2o/s1600/16March9river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptpiTWLdkL7DvtmxzBvUvxCtmmNDBC5_EXfSnRDfU1qgpEehrkiV3iy3KOH_6ZcFP5OW4UzGsN-rGMDCsEi9f2pMMBlw3vUPGzk3kVtObVOBDOTOu1z1HcfSbx_SYrIhzl73FQMCbu2o/s320/16March9river.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I want my Live Writer back! My blog looks so awkward without it. But no use in whining when there's nothing to be done about it. Onward!<br />
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There was a New Moon on Tuesday, and that means Action! It's also a good time to get your butt in gear, whether you want to or not. And boy, there seems to be a lot more action associated with this New Moon than most. It occurred in Pisces at around 19 degrees. All of you Pisces will be feeling it, but so will you Virgo, Pisces' opposite in the Zodiac. Pisces should be feeling comfortably motivated for the next month while Virgos may be feeling more restless than anything. This month's New Moon was directly opposite Jupiter in Virgo and square Saturn in Sagittarius. Pisces are normally quiet and contemplative while Virgos are quiet but analytical. Sagittarians are talkative and idealistic. The ruler of the New Moon chart is Mercury, so ideas and communication are going to be high on the list until <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxdp-B7UD1kL6WdqrgZQK_ArN2Y5Hl9YnA0GJ6DIo2NkOfCbsTu3F7bYhltoLKx0RUt2ZOrh_WUY8Lld7pdEZY_sVRTGdfcAesBWKW5aE3HVT3Uugc2hfo_Xqji6xn6NecKFE-UONGrg/s1600/16March9wallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxdp-B7UD1kL6WdqrgZQK_ArN2Y5Hl9YnA0GJ6DIo2NkOfCbsTu3F7bYhltoLKx0RUt2ZOrh_WUY8Lld7pdEZY_sVRTGdfcAesBWKW5aE3HVT3Uugc2hfo_Xqji6xn6NecKFE-UONGrg/s320/16March9wallet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
the next New Moon on April 7 (in Aries). Fast and furious the ideas come, and just as quickly they'll disappear. Whether you agree with them or not, it will make for an oddly enjoyable and satisfying month.<br />
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The weather where I live has been typical for March. After no snow at all in February, we got hit with the white stuff on March 1 and 2. It melted by the afternoon on both days. Yesterday morning started off so nicely that I grabbed my camera and took a long walk down by the Thompson River, one of my favourite places to walk. This is what the country around here looks like. I think it's beautiful. By the afternoon, just moments after I went outside to do some yard work, the wind whipped up and it turned cold. Today is beautiful but still windy, and just now I look out my window and see some Canada Geese being <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LodLj2VE6NnRO51LDoctNm9wMczxgPmISwy4EYWcmP_jDu9wuLx8ga7A_20PagTlOer9xtcmI4jarpqAqNo-ZKvEjGQ5r6n36dU7PB9AH_1xVQdYKJ4ak2JATLgG5JbsoHbbg8Bn5iU/s1600/16March9walletinside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LodLj2VE6NnRO51LDoctNm9wMczxgPmISwy4EYWcmP_jDu9wuLx8ga7A_20PagTlOer9xtcmI4jarpqAqNo-ZKvEjGQ5r6n36dU7PB9AH_1xVQdYKJ4ak2JATLgG5JbsoHbbg8Bn5iU/s320/16March9walletinside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
blown out of formation by the wind. Not that anything stops them for long, especially when they're heading for water.<br />
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I made another wallet last week with some bright flutterbyes on it. Love this Blank Quilting fabric. It's from a few years back. For the inside I picked a lightweight fabric with huge butterflies on it. I have no idea where this one came from - must have been a remnant that I bought at some stage. Hope I didn't pay too much for it. Anyway, go big or go home, right? It certainly makes me stare at it each time I look at it. If I truly hated it, I wouldn't be using it in a wallet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMDu5QYNwGg2C9KY8L1sPIiEoJOf0B0RbFjLNy9TYgWkBK3IoIKykMIjpOBgnhlbnPsCEfR1PqHCbBDfmU8wmahWueGKsoXjNv0SdwsSQqdO-ywD3XsMXth73HHA5xo4ftQGsdRN1JDw/s1600/16March9square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMDu5QYNwGg2C9KY8L1sPIiEoJOf0B0RbFjLNy9TYgWkBK3IoIKykMIjpOBgnhlbnPsCEfR1PqHCbBDfmU8wmahWueGKsoXjNv0SdwsSQqdO-ywD3XsMXth73HHA5xo4ftQGsdRN1JDw/s320/16March9square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I would be using it to experiment with - to make new blocks that I was unsure about. Earlier this week I was at <a href="http://www.quilterscache.com/">Quilter's Cache</a> looking for a block to go with some sawtooth stars I have and I found <a href="http://www.quilterscache.com/G/GrandmothersFavoriteBlock.html">this one</a> . I'm putting it together using junky scraps so I can get an idea of the size and how it would fit. I like paper piecing, especially when I can't decide what I want to do. You can't really improvise when you're paper piecing. You just follow the instructions and add one piece after the other until it's done.<br />
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<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-85891368310820540642016-02-29T19:27:00.000-08:002016-02-29T19:27:55.894-08:00Leaps and bounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMZE4_0dzozu5pkpstJz8NVIHsjEuNzr3xb0q0RaYQGas-MaedZ8nVFZ4yU7ySOyvurt_kWPWMu05D0-HpZUQDAZicwy-JXjQsXtAbAsFEN8nCsP0SRixhiNgb8IS9_AgD4JM5XEevl8/s1600/16Feb29bflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMZE4_0dzozu5pkpstJz8NVIHsjEuNzr3xb0q0RaYQGas-MaedZ8nVFZ4yU7ySOyvurt_kWPWMu05D0-HpZUQDAZicwy-JXjQsXtAbAsFEN8nCsP0SRixhiNgb8IS9_AgD4JM5XEevl8/s200/16Feb29bflies.jpg" width="115" /></a></div>
I could get used to this retirement thing! Getting a decent night's sleep, eating well, taking long walks. And sewing. It's all on the schedule I made up for myself.<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA9WpWpa0HUtdawLfnSeVPlWWTbHkeVn42rrHrV8w_A2IHKKwD8YjHMceOhWZlCtHK3gaN3-Pjf27Ya6TpxBJeJRcdHaqpe2xMflXo_8LODTo4wNp77Njn1ZRdQOuCcu47odfkAv1hak/s1600/16Feb29swirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA9WpWpa0HUtdawLfnSeVPlWWTbHkeVn42rrHrV8w_A2IHKKwD8YjHMceOhWZlCtHK3gaN3-Pjf27Ya6TpxBJeJRcdHaqpe2xMflXo_8LODTo4wNp77Njn1ZRdQOuCcu47odfkAv1hak/s200/16Feb29swirls.jpg" width="110" /></a>Yes, I made myself a schedule. That's me. People told me that I'd lose track of time after I retired, and there are so many things I want to do with my time now that I have some for myself that I don't want to waste it. Only thing is, blogging isn't on my schedule.</div>
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Guess I'd better add it somewhere, but I'm not spending very much time at my computer these days. That's all I did at work.</div>
My friend and next door neighbour challenged me last week to get some sewing done. Up until then I'd been staring at my machine, moving things around on the table and not getting much else done. It's awesome what a challenge will do!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_4TVFx3xnB_nKBiNpzOaUKnCUk2spauNwrxEEbnFRlR0xbURuhryFzwyKVGLGD0Vat4gY3vzhieimLDo2ECQdJmF29xXCIYirB84s4OIocn2__V6kCHQsVVFpW8sTMmCBKnwqcidVxc/s1600/16Feb29catF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_4TVFx3xnB_nKBiNpzOaUKnCUk2spauNwrxEEbnFRlR0xbURuhryFzwyKVGLGD0Vat4gY3vzhieimLDo2ECQdJmF29xXCIYirB84s4OIocn2__V6kCHQsVVFpW8sTMmCBKnwqcidVxc/s200/16Feb29catF.jpg" width="118" /></a></div>
I started making these little <a href="http://www.beckandlundy.com/2014/10/badge-holder-tutorial.html">bags</a> again. I made four of them. In one week. Along with music practice, lunch with the gals, house work, yard work, walks, visits and everything else. I made these half an inch narrower than the first ones. You can still fit a cell phone in the outer pockets or a Canadian passport (or money or keys or glasses or...) in the zippered pocket.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYTSe0gPiIqvAQcAWN6F-ynmlV_k_VPhXAkEsJq90eJXIbiB_MCosm2NK8KDibPHkjrLiIIpfVwLiLBJYWPyaoXggMqpwp5oqhcD39RvcfBDHmD9d4aRBcNYNz5vv9UZ6Ls6qCDW-V5U/s1600/16Feb29catB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYTSe0gPiIqvAQcAWN6F-ynmlV_k_VPhXAkEsJq90eJXIbiB_MCosm2NK8KDibPHkjrLiIIpfVwLiLBJYWPyaoXggMqpwp5oqhcD39RvcfBDHmD9d4aRBcNYNz5vv9UZ6Ls6qCDW-V5U/s200/16Feb29catB.jpg" width="125" /></a>Have I mentioned how much I love Laurel Burch fabrics? Probably once or twice. I made up one for myself and had to stop and think about what I would really like on my own bag. Well, cats, of course. I have a not too shabby </div>
collection of cat fabric, and a nice selection of Laurel Burch cats. It wasn't too hard to find some bits that went together nicely.<br />
I'll probably make more of these little bags in the future, but for now I'm off on another project. After that I'll get back to finishing the "bingo bags" that I started well before Christmas.<br />
And after that, I'd like to get back to making quilts. Before that, though, there's going to be a garden to work up and plant. It's going to be fun!<br />
Until next time,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-85487840020436293942016-02-18T11:39:00.002-08:002016-02-18T11:40:17.839-08:00Word of the Week - Retirement!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5WMBchc8Oz7Rj4Cc3AobLLLaP9bO9PMO8YHEVERrwpwvTuWVHt8AxSELwXfK1yJruEg57zT9j-p-6iR0oXMh_4csM59feaIzTSf1O3eQb6DzIlg4own-QA4oWexC-rln_V4ypeC_46c/s1600/16Feb18bagfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5WMBchc8Oz7Rj4Cc3AobLLLaP9bO9PMO8YHEVERrwpwvTuWVHt8AxSELwXfK1yJruEg57zT9j-p-6iR0oXMh_4csM59feaIzTSf1O3eQb6DzIlg4own-QA4oWexC-rln_V4ypeC_46c/s320/16Feb18bagfront.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
As of last Friday, I am retired from my career of almost 40 years! My time is my own now and I almost don't know what to do with it. Almost. I know that I need to retain a bit of structure, but I'm giving myself a week off before I start making lists and plans.<br />
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It's hard. My mind is going off in all directions at breakneck speed. Thirty-seven-plus years as a weekly (and daily) newspaper editor made me think in terms of daily story lists and more deadlines than you might believe possible. People used to ask me how I found time for quilting: I told them I squeezed in a little bit here, a little bit there. But even that has become increasingly harder in the past year as company cutbacks and policies have pretty much claimed the last of my free time. <br />
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I've been cleaning up around my sewing table and cutting fabric for some more of these little <a href="http://www.beckandlundy.com/2014/10/badge-holder-tutorial.html">bags</a>. This is a late Christmas present for my music partner. Can you tell? (Hint - music staves and piano keyboards!). I also picked up a cold from a co-worker on my last day of work and on Monday I slept for 18 out of 24 hours. Guess I <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrXwpyLQKbDU5SEE9BS4bE6v54wcRTi5lYrMKQx5lf0HU9crMHziI9kK0F7vIHyxW4B-C3LEXjAo84b65oE_1g3SVPexn9G7jrvaAi9ju1Hs67CdlSTmX3L10rWlmMVZ6yMjACD6ZNG8/s1600/16Feb18bagback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrXwpyLQKbDU5SEE9BS4bE6v54wcRTi5lYrMKQx5lf0HU9crMHziI9kK0F7vIHyxW4B-C3LEXjAo84b65oE_1g3SVPexn9G7jrvaAi9ju1Hs67CdlSTmX3L10rWlmMVZ6yMjACD6ZNG8/s320/16Feb18bagback.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
needed it. Needless to say, my kitties were very pleased. But that's why I haven't done much at the sewing machine - too fuzzy headed from this cold. I cut some fabric, decide I don't want to use it and look around for something else to cut. I'm going to end up with a pile of tiny pieces and another project if I keep doing that.<br />
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Unless I get a surge of energy in the next couple of days, there probably won't be any sewing until next week - but I guarantee, there will be by then.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-28600858213081709322016-02-05T08:59:00.001-08:002016-02-05T08:59:10.015-08:00Furball Friday - Is it Friday already?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyPgPhmW3DbzxEw3rqos108dMTnNR5E0h9Zem50B9Kb424dkVZYusmkp6vlt3MxC2xT0_xNzNVoAANoVSRI6Al4altZajVWttnI3_C0jzc4e7WFDFn0Z-0lvjWcLtH3IW4XHmZVnn4cM/s1600/16Feb3Ginger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyPgPhmW3DbzxEw3rqos108dMTnNR5E0h9Zem50B9Kb424dkVZYusmkp6vlt3MxC2xT0_xNzNVoAANoVSRI6Al4altZajVWttnI3_C0jzc4e7WFDFn0Z-0lvjWcLtH3IW4XHmZVnn4cM/s400/16Feb3Ginger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-85159025073499756712016-01-31T08:28:00.002-08:002016-01-31T08:28:52.472-08:00Neck purses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzeGwMKbmpo_R1h61BF0P1-BdIGwIDT_WL4ay3vAe13A32bGW2UaYKPvAJWlKWgtB3Z8QK6k02zEa3_d3rcp9UfsXsbWfZWNcCeHSCx1L-3hUgGoGdDRghf4fjxSmqIsCQmDPzPesu64/s1600/16Jan31bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzeGwMKbmpo_R1h61BF0P1-BdIGwIDT_WL4ay3vAe13A32bGW2UaYKPvAJWlKWgtB3Z8QK6k02zEa3_d3rcp9UfsXsbWfZWNcCeHSCx1L-3hUgGoGdDRghf4fjxSmqIsCQmDPzPesu64/s400/16Jan31bags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Wow - last day of January already. It's been a busy month at work, which translates into not much time for sewing. But that will change very soon!<br />
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I made these last December as Christmas presents for co-workers. We always exchange handmade gifts and for the past three years I've been giving them bags. This year I chose these badge holders, although I call them neck wallets because I replace the clear plastic badge holder with another fabric pocket. Above is a picture of the front and below is the back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUXWmwQFg6Ln22YM1fqK1d3qTmITqxe4nhkcFpgO4NVjuX04ifm_2BbswfE9km7_FxN8JyDgYRQM-0mbfljxVe5yboELNID5X39lTVFoNlfB40BMT7fGcwJlNvya00RafHWy_DIaeCfU/s1600/16Jan31bagcatbackA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUXWmwQFg6Ln22YM1fqK1d3qTmITqxe4nhkcFpgO4NVjuX04ifm_2BbswfE9km7_FxN8JyDgYRQM-0mbfljxVe5yboELNID5X39lTVFoNlfB40BMT7fGcwJlNvya00RafHWy_DIaeCfU/s320/16Jan31bagcatbackA.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
It took me a while to figure out these free instructions found <a href="http://www.beckandlundy.com/2014/10/badge-holder-tutorial.html">here</a>, and I had to look at other badge holder patterns but, of course, when you see how it goes together it all makes sense. Let me know if you need help in deciphering the pattern.<br />
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Because I've sewn things for my co-workers over the years, I always use a little bit of the same fabric on everything I make for them - either for continuity or to satisfy my obsessive-compulsive nature. Depending on how tall (or short) they are, I make the neck strap 24 inches and then add or subtract two inches or so.<br />
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Of all the patterns I've looked at for badge holders, I like this one the best because of the pockets, and it really is simple to make. Pockets on the front and back and a zipper pocket to put small things that you don't want to lose, or maybe a passport that you want to keep safe. I could even fit the neck joint of my soprano recorder in there to keep it warm before a concert. The rear pocket is great for a cellphone. <br />
I'm working on more of these at the moment. As you can see, they make great little gifts. They don't use much fabric and they're great for fussy cutting.<br />
Until next time,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-82192672687759934662016-01-02T15:23:00.004-08:002016-01-02T15:27:49.030-08:00Slow holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard getting back into the work routine after the holidays. I should be back in the office today, but I'm not. I could be sewing right now, but I'm not. Instead I'm sitting around, emailing friends and family members to see how their holidays are and to show them my lovely Moeck "Rottenburgh" recorder (the pale one on the right) that I bought used and got a great deal on. (The darker recorder is a Hans Coolsma "Solo" - no pun intended - which I bought a few months ago, also for a good deal.)<br />
Hopefully I'll get to the sewing machine after this. It's one of my New Year's intentions - more quilting. And more music. And more gardening! Last night I finally got around to (my favourite phrase) soaking and cooking the black beans that I grew in my garden last year and dried. After I cooked them, I measured them into separate bags, with two cups of beans each in them, and put them in the freezer. All set to use now, in chilis, casseroles or what have you.<br />
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Back to the fabric wallets that I showed you last week (by the way, there's a link to the free pattern on the right side of my page under "My Favourite Tutorials" called Fabric Wallet with Strap). One of my co-workers wanted me to make one for her in her favourite colours - black and silver. No problem. She wanted it bigger than the others that I'd made.<br />
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That silvery fabric inside was a pain to work with. It was from an unknown remnant that I bought, and I knew that it wasn't cotton, but it was pretty. It was a pain to work with, but it looked nice once the wallet was finished.<br />
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I was really happy with the way it turned out, and that's saying a lot!</div>
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She liked it, but it wasn't big enough. She wanted it bigger. This particular pattern isn't really made to be bigger. It's designed to be what it is - a little clutch that you can throw your keys and glasses and some change in and go. But, she wanted bigger. The magnetic clasp was already not really working for the upsized version, so I decided to use a twist clasp. I had a couple on hand but I'd never used one before. Took me some time to feel comfortable cutting in to good fabric to insert one. I measured and measured and measured and finally I had no more excuses not to do it.<br />
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Crooked! Don't you hate that? Cutting out that little oval of fabric to accommodate the clasp was a real bugger and hard to keep straight because I was cutting through three layers of fabric and batting. Oh well.<br />
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I had also run out of that cool fabric with the wavy lines. And I wasn't going to struggle with that nice silvery whatever fabric again.<br />
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But I did manage to give up some of my copious amount of Laurel Burch cat fabric for the pocket because my co-worker loves her kitties as much as I love mine. Well, she loved her wallet - and not just because of the cats. So, my first attempt at a twisty clasp - Fail, but the world didn't end. I'll be making another attempt in the near future.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-3136806217126584042016-01-01T15:06:00.000-08:002016-01-01T15:06:44.412-08:00Furball Friday - A warm place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-3788219324295521522015-12-27T17:41:00.002-08:002015-12-27T17:41:18.019-08:00And they tell their friends...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this year, or maybe last year - I can't remember anymore and I haven't bothered to look back through my old posts to see - I started making these cute little fabric wallets from a free and very well written tutorial here: <br />
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If that link looks as ugly to you on your screen as it does to me, then google Sew 4 Home fabric wallet and you should come up with it. Actually, the Sew 4 Home has lots of fabulous free patterns and you may get lost there for a very long time. I've found lots of great patterns there - more than I'll ever get around to making.
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So, this summer a friend of a friend of a friend asked me to make a couple for her out of some of her favourite fabric. When she said "Laurel Burch" I couldn't resist because I have such a weakness for her beautiful colours and designs. She had seen some of these wallets that I'd made for others and asked me to make two for her. How could I say no? I had to see her fabric!<br />
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It was beautiful. It wasn't all Laurel Burch, but it went together very nicely. I added a little bit of my own stash where I thought it would fit in. Please forgive the wonky pictures - I must have been in a hurry! I think she liked them.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-53984590307989459972015-12-26T15:35:00.000-08:002015-12-26T15:35:33.535-08:00Tick tock<div style="border-image: none;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfilesC607C1/15Dec25bag1[5].jpg"></a>I
have a bit of spare time – and the sense that I ought to post before the year
is done. My job seems to have gotten the better of me this year – my job and my
extra-curricular activities like sewing and music and gardening.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been sewing, because I have. I just haven’t
been blogging! I tried yesterday for the first time in forever and Google
nicely informed me that there was suspicious activity on my account! I say
let’s keep <a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfilesC607C1/15Dec25bag2[5].jpg"></a>them
on their toes! And my Windows Live Writer no longer works, so I’m trying to
figure out Blogger and it’s going to look ugly in the meantime.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
haven’t been sewing as much as I want to, but I have finished a few things –
all bags. One of these days I’ll get back to quilts. But right now, everyone
wants a bag. Bingo bags, clutches, totes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">No
one asked for this bag. It’s the first bag I’ve made without a pattern. There
are lots of improvements to be made to this, but overall I <a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfilesC607C1/15Dec25bag3[5].jpg"></a>was
tickled with how it turned out. As you can see by the background, the pictures
were taken during warmer times. This is all scrappy material that was given to
me, but I still like it. Zipper inside it, along with a floppy pocket. </span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfilesC607C1/15Dec25bag1[5].jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbhg7Nw6KN49lEAJchrVgMyxN4FQMKTwBfVYayGHSdMQ6psYYFO07gqv2SjeMCy6ybdxmy3wLD5DqXMyWgXPsDk5bRFfogLkY6AOA7J4GmdfN9Z2yN2tuy7PJmPWVBSg2xt90rS80pkE/s1600/15Dec25bag3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbhg7Nw6KN49lEAJchrVgMyxN4FQMKTwBfVYayGHSdMQ6psYYFO07gqv2SjeMCy6ybdxmy3wLD5DqXMyWgXPsDk5bRFfogLkY6AOA7J4GmdfN9Z2yN2tuy7PJmPWVBSg2xt90rS80pkE/s320/15Dec25bag3.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Eventually
it will lead to something better. When I have time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Until
next time,</span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Wendy/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfilesC607C1/15Dec25bag1[5].jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-54720064887348054162015-12-25T16:26:00.000-08:002015-12-25T16:26:04.787-08:00Friday Furball - Happy Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-niQaK2K9rG3XMMWfXJnkl9lA7LPR0KMZKyPkXPHhpRAlLASxFrStB72Mc69a9LlLexuO3NbgmsCLcI01Z1ty23ij63XfdJDCQKwDeAEQxT6ra_MsNP6LoS_UDOznE-7JvSB19e-pUN0/s1600/15Dec25Ginger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-niQaK2K9rG3XMMWfXJnkl9lA7LPR0KMZKyPkXPHhpRAlLASxFrStB72Mc69a9LlLexuO3NbgmsCLcI01Z1ty23ij63XfdJDCQKwDeAEQxT6ra_MsNP6LoS_UDOznE-7JvSB19e-pUN0/s640/15Dec25Ginger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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All is calm, all is Ginger!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-27354527126428788552015-04-17T21:43:00.001-07:002015-04-17T21:43:13.387-07:00B-I-N-G-O!<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--L_ndLE0Wvs/VTHgz3tFkOI/AAAAAAAAESk/lIxyDZuMV9M/s1600-h/15Apr14five%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Apr14five" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Apr14five" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GSHmHG6KdJQ/VTHg0Zbs2xI/AAAAAAAAESo/ngQFOqozGX4/15Apr14five_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" align="left" height="222"></a> I haven’t played bingo since I was a kid, but it’s a popular game among adults in a lot of places I’ve lived, including the town where I am now. Last summer a lady I know stopped at my table at the Farmers Market to look at my Halloween bags and asked if I could make some modifications to accommodate her bingo needs – as in outside pockets to put her dabbers (markers) in.</p> <p>Never says never. I said I’d give it a shot and she was happy with the outcome. Another lady saw her bingo bag and wanted one, so I made one for her as well. She told me that others were interested and she asked me to make a bunch and she’d sell them for me at the local bingos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q7q8ePse104/VTHg1AYkCcI/AAAAAAAAES0/9K7OLvQfR2w/s1600-h/15Apr15three3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Apr15three3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Apr15three3" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hgLAiEqcdgE/VTHg1mrCO4I/AAAAAAAAES4/b9yYQmT6cpc/15Apr15three3_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" align="right" height="243"></a> All righty. I figured if they didn’t sell there, I would put them on the table with my other bags at this summer’s Farmers Market. Well, she sold all five that I made for her… and asked for more! Good grief! I’d put away all of my bingo bag instructions and was getting ready to move on to the next project… But I guess I’ll be making a few more bingo bags first.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Swvch_Mn-mc/VTHg2ZEAxVI/AAAAAAAAETE/F0uYiU2RY_0/s1600-h/15Apr15two%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Apr15two" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Apr15two" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WrdJICkbtLk/VTHg2-9D-oI/AAAAAAAAETI/ky06wPJYGc4/15Apr15two_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" align="left" height="245"></a> If I change something in the instructions – and I always do – I write it down or else I’ll forget how I did it. I write it in pencil because, as I did with these bags, I’m constantly tweaking. I started out making the outside pockets about an inch and a half from the bottom, but that made them sag. So now I place them so they will sit flush with the bottom of the bag. Makes it a bit harder to cut the corners because it’s so bulky, but it sure looks better.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qn1PYSrM1tY/VTHg3k2-mYI/AAAAAAAAETU/76hkHBVTLLE/s1600-h/15Apr15strap%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Apr15strap" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Apr15strap" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7LppcwrsKRM/VTHg4C28x2I/AAAAAAAAETY/UyaBRSvaAU0/15Apr15strap_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" align="right" height="220"></a> And the last bag I made had a cowboy theme, so I put some bling on it – star-shaped studs – and did some fancy stitching on the handles. (Look for more of this on future bingo bags!) Those stars look rather nice, I think, but sheesh, they were a pain!!! to sew around. I was using my walking foot, but I couldn’t stitch a straight line along the stars. The foot kept veering off to the side. I unstitched and redid it three times before I finally gave up. I used my narrow zipper foot to stitch straight lines down the sides of the handles, and it worked just fine.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Right now I’m dividing my free time between sewing and gardening. My greenhouse is full of tomato and pepper plants that need to be repotted because they’re outgrowing their plug trays. I’ll be doing that this weekend, in between making some more bingo bags.</p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-27683923531121265302015-03-13T20:42:00.001-07:002015-03-13T20:42:52.160-07:00Where did February go?<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6Edt8v-_sWo/VQOuMOeu13I/AAAAAAAAERs/h7J_zHYSR8A/s1600-h/15March13cats%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="15March13cats" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="15March13cats" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zf5inZpQDFk/VQOuMkrG6HI/AAAAAAAAER0/_Nn8eOkz5LI/15March13cats_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" align="left" height="281"></a> The real reason I haven’t done a lot of sewing lately.</p> <p>That’s not true, but Rusty gets blamed for everything. He doesn’t seem to mind. I was mending the holy pockets in my winter coat yesterday and he plopped himself down on my coat and went to sleep.</p> <p>Don’t you hate it when your keys go missing and you locate them in the lining of your coat? Or your cell phone starts ringing and you have to take your coat off and practically turn it inside out to get your phone back? Hopefully my mending will stop that from happening again.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-evHbP-o1vIU/VQOuNX-NZfI/AAAAAAAAER8/UBqgVVT5cPk/s1600-h/15March13bags%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="15March13bags" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="15March13bags" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q-T8TxBkpDk/VQOuNmppEoI/AAAAAAAAESA/f9thUy_5u2M/15March13bags_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" align="right" height="334"></a> Actually, I’ve been getting a lot of sewing done.It’s just been taking me 10 times longer than it normally does because I’ve been having non-stop problems with the tension. I’ve been spending more time taking stitches out than I have putting them in. I spent hours slowly turning the tension dial back and forth, I changed needles, thread, etc.Once I changed a bobbin and it cleared up for a little while – until I had to take the bobbin out to refill it. I put it back into the machine and all of the problems were back.</p> <p>Just in the past two weeks they’ve disappeared again and everything is working better than it has since I busted my needle plate about this time last year. That’s when the tension problems started. Maybe the planets have realigned and harmony has replaced tension in the sewing room! </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZjHV5r2AgTk/VQOuODUO6XI/AAAAAAAAESM/LmK1HgJp9YM/s1600-h/15March13handles%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="15March13handles" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="15March13handles" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oD0E7GubVh0/VQOuOvvowiI/AAAAAAAAESQ/NYm4hsyZvTQ/15March13handles_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" align="left" height="262"></a> I just finished these three bags. I started four of them just over a year ago, cutting all of the fabric I needed to make them. In fact, it was the first of these bags that I was working on when the needle mechanism came down on the needle plate like a jackhammer. I was stitching the canvas handles at the time. Even after I replaced the needle plate, I was hesitant to try it all again, which is one reason why it’s taken me so long to finish these. I just have to stitch up the lining opening and I’m done. They’re a nice and roomy heavy duty tote bag. We’ll see if I can sell them when our farmers market starts up again in May.</p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-55034586762971837192015-01-31T07:19:00.001-08:002015-01-31T07:19:21.933-08:00Friday Furball - Angels<p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wiUMwWoKKvg/VMzydbdsvII/AAAAAAAAEQ0/G9cZVNJvwv0/s1600-h/15Jan31ginger%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan31ginger" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="15Jan31ginger" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fn5pv0biB9M/VMzyeIRQJmI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/91xCacuJbl4/15Jan31ginger_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="458"></a> </p> <p>See more Feline Friday at <a href="http://sarahdidit.blogspot.ca/2015/01/feline-friday-13015.html" target="_blank">Sarah Did It .</a></p> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-8991756637008784112015-01-03T20:58:00.001-08:002015-01-03T20:58:05.620-08:00Snow Angel<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lNcwRhHnv-s/VKjIUXiRj-I/AAAAAAAAEP8/Hwr45cJEuuU/s1600-h/15Jan3angel%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan3angel" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Jan3angel" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MdOmZEPIzZs/VKjIU-yebCI/AAAAAAAAEQA/7UK2_zbRY6s/15Jan3angel_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" align="left" height="301"></a> Don’t get excited. Just because I’ve blogged three days in a row doesn’t mean it’s going to go on for much longer. Today was a Snow Day and we all know that Snow Days are best spent sewing! And did we ever get snow. Actually, we got it yesterday. The skies opened up around lunch time and dumped about 4 inches of snow in a couple of hours. Today strong winds all day blew it all around, making it seem like another Snow Day.</p> <p>I finished off this gal from The Buggy Barn’s Angels Among Us. It used to be a free pattern at the <a href="http://www.henryglassfabrics.com/projects/new-free-projects/" target="_blank">Henry Glass</a> website, but it was taken down a while back and I haven’t seen it since. I grabbed a copy of it while it was there. This is a paper pieced pattern. There is another Buggy Barn pattern by the same name, but it is totally different. Anyway, I think I’ll be making more<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sNpS9tzrAfk/VKjIVosatMI/AAAAAAAAEQM/V0vTjIc66ec/s1600-h/15Jan3house%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan3house" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Jan3house" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-03_7qHDwryE/VKjIWOJrw9I/AAAAAAAAEQQ/O5CScuZPq3w/15Jan3house_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="384" align="right" height="261"></a> of these blocks for late Christmas presents. It’s great to get an unexpected post-Christmas present, isn’t it?</p> <p>Since I was more or less stuck in the house (if you don’t count shovelling out the 12-inch snow drifts in the driveway and visiting my next door neighbour), I also made this “Simple House” 6-inch block from <a href="http://www.forestquilting.com/paperpiecing_free_pg1.html" target="_blank">Forest Quilting</a> site. They have some really nice <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bpk_QMSAyio/VKjIWoyZ6HI/AAAAAAAAEQY/9ssaHJB1xB8/s1600-h/15Jan3zion%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan3zion" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Jan3zion" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EvwsWopBXko/VKjIXMzZOdI/AAAAAAAAEQk/_PQ6kyXL3DI/15Jan3zion_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" align="left" height="404"></a> free paper piecing patterns. I’ve already shown you the stars. It’s all part of a bigger plan.</p> <p></p> <p>I admit, freshly falling snow can be beautiful. I just object to having to drive in it and since I live in one town and work in another, I have to drive through a lot of snow. You get over it or you move to Mexico. Here’s a picture I took yesterday after it started snowing. Hope everyone is staying warm and dry tonight.</p> <p>Until next time, </p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-11515129968279911402015-01-02T06:39:00.001-08:002015-01-02T06:39:18.587-08:00Friday Furrball – Christmas prezzies<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1jn1pzv62HE/VKatjc7zibI/AAAAAAAAEPU/p2gYKq1u_NU/s1600-h/15Jan2Rusty%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan2Rusty" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px auto 10px; border-left: 0px; display: block" border="0" alt="15Jan2Rusty" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OndD2x1DRWs/VKatkJRUkkI/AAAAAAAAEPc/u_baqf9BmpA/15Jan2Rusty_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="459" height="325"></a> While I was at my sewing machine yesterday, I picked up an old scrap off the floor that the cats had been batting around. I sewed it into a bag, stuffed it with catnip that I went out to the garden to get, sewed it shut and voila! Instant gratification. Of course, Rusty took it right away. I had to make another one for Ginger. Rusty took that one, too. We finally got it sorted out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QE0x86o5iC0/VKatkmIZDWI/AAAAAAAAEPk/hOLsQgF251U/s1600-h/15Jan2Ginger%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan2Ginger" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block" border="0" alt="15Jan2Ginger" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lJpC-r5X7Cw/VKatlaB9Y9I/AAAAAAAAEPs/Npq-Ft_rqCM/15Jan2Ginger_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="478" height="340"></a></p> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-25177110823990480442015-01-01T13:31:00.001-08:002015-01-01T13:31:16.311-08:00The start of something small<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZwnuzmkGC4I/VKW8nDwWLyI/AAAAAAAAEOs/kEB2gu45jd4/s1600-h/15Jan1stars%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan1stars" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="15Jan1stars" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RHxgDDp_f_g/VKW8ng6ovjI/AAAAAAAAEO0/_gTESpMplwk/15Jan1stars_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" align="left" height="348"></a> It really is 2015. I had to create new photo files today before I could store some pictures. I use the year as a sub-folder for several different categories – for example, in the folder Quilt, I have 2010, 2011… and now I have 2015.</p> <p>And these three-inch stars are my first quilt photo – and project of 2015. They are from a free paper piecing block at <a href="http://www.forestquilting.com/paperpiecing_free_pg1.html" target="_blank">Forest Quilting</a> called Crooked Star, and they are going to be part of a small wall hanging that I’m making as a Christmas present. </p> <p>Yeah, Christmas 2014. I didn’t get anything done last year, and all of my friends basically got “IOU’s” for their presents. Many people I know just weren’t in the mood this year for Christmas – including me.</p> <p>Actually, I did get one present made, a few weeks ago. I just haven’t mailed it yet.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HB5_XfYxaz4/VKW8oMevgNI/AAAAAAAAEO8/cKQfffN9oF4/s1600-h/15Jan1kittens%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="15Jan1kittens" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="15Jan1kittens" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iLAjS1BsU18/VKW8on6qCLI/AAAAAAAAEPE/JMVG1yv-Qeg/15Jan1kittens_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" align="right" height="224"></a> I’m hoping for a much more productive year for quilts and bags this year. Just have to quit letting work crowd out everything else. January means new Quiltalongs, and there are at least a couple I’d like to join. I’ll let you know about them in a few weeks if I decide to join them.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>This is one of my favourite photos of Rusty and Ginger, taken this day in 2910, just a few days after they came to live with us. Adorable. Moreso in those days than they are now.</p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-32115904254041069582014-12-24T22:09:00.001-08:002014-12-24T22:09:24.588-08:00Early Christmas present<p>Merry Christmas, everyone! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oh4KOKGuIzQ/VJuqCUY-lGI/AAAAAAAAEN0/WGy02Bu0o4c/s1600-h/14Dec24corsage%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Dec24corsage" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Dec24corsage" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4hQnh_2M2u8/VJuqC_-j-SI/AAAAAAAAEN8/SzIMp9ToSIw/14Dec24corsage_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" align="left" height="213"></a> It’s been a crazy year and I won’t be sad to put it behind me. Just not enough hours in the day to do the things that need to be done AND have a life. My life gets crammed in here and there, whenever I have a few minutes to spare. I took Tuesday off, and spent the entire day searching every nook and cranny for birds during our annual Christmas Bird Count. There didn’t seem to be as many birds this year as in previous years, but seeing an enormous flock of about 400 Canada Geese on the wing was pretty awesome, as was the huge <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R_tpACeLLkM/VJuqDetkfmI/AAAAAAAAEOE/O3gqzq8SOAk/s1600-h/14Dec24shapes%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Dec24shapes" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Dec24shapes" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qXtjJzxvA4U/VJuqD2m7C6I/AAAAAAAAEOI/SiZWizS0C9E/14Dec24shapes_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" align="right" height="215"></a> flock of Bohemian waxwings. And I love the black capped chickadees – they are so adorable. And for the first time in the 10 years I’ve been doing this, there was no snow on the ground and the weather was above 0 (0 C = 32 F)!</p> <p>Finished my Poinsettia corsage. I planned to make 10 more and give them out as gifts, but my sewing machine had other ideas. Without changing a thing, the tension went out of whack after I’d finished sewing 25 out of the 30 pieces I needed. I spent a while trying to readjust it and then realized the bobbin was making a lot of noise. I replaced it with another and everything was fine again. Weird. But I was out of time by then, so I put everything in a ziplock bag and put it away for another day.</p> <p>And I haven’t done a whole lot of sewing since then. Too busy at work. I still have some presents to finish up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--Ab6EjEY-aQ/VJuqEbY8PMI/AAAAAAAAEOU/Q1hAqOeQzuM/s1600-h/14Dec24bernina%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Dec24bernina" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Dec24bernina" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f6_aWXgIYAA/VJuqE4vaSpI/AAAAAAAAEOY/fbI9uik8V7o/14Dec24bernina_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" align="left" height="250"></a> This is an early present that I bought for myself – a Bernina 830 Record. The owner posted a For Sale notice on the bulletin board at the Post Office. They were asking $150 for it and I just couldn’t pass up that one. It’s missing the carry case, extension table and knee lift lever, but it came with a drop-in sewing cabinet (for an extra $25) and a million feet. And two million bobbins! And the sewing machine itself is in excellent condition. (Ginger confirms that.) I’m looking forward to playing with it. And maybe some day I’ll be able to pass it on to my granddaughter.</p> <p>Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas and relaxing holidays.</p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-774987932763598192014-11-21T07:05:00.001-08:002014-11-21T07:05:30.484-08:00Sea turtles and poinsettias<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u21_qL6ukSU/VG9Upig36PI/AAAAAAAAEMc/lGs-vssWQJI/s1600-h/14Nov20poinsettia%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Nov20poinsettia" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Nov20poinsettia" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iE-5o3Eds6I/VG9UqOSIiBI/AAAAAAAAEMg/kM79uVgHZvQ/14Nov20poinsettia_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" align="left" height="242"></a> Lately, every time I sit down at my computer to write a blog post, I glance at the clock on my screen and find out that I'm out of time. Again. Like yesterday morning. It wasn't my blog, but I'd just finished sewing the veins on my <a href="http://www.bhg.com/christmas/crafts/felted-wool-poinsettia-pin/" target="_blank">"poinsettia" pin</a> and I was going to start exercising when I realized I had an appointment in a nearby town to get my winter tires put on. I hate being late. Most times, being late is not even an option. The weeks between Labour Day and Christmas are a blur where I work. Summer is dead as everyone takes time off. Once September rolls around, everyone makes up for the lost time. Then January comes and the place is dead again.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dI6gC1e7ck4/VG9UqsrZlXI/AAAAAAAAEMs/J9HqqHd64gk/s1600-h/14Nov19front%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Nov19front" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Nov19front" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oobpEpEqvGc/VG9UrCvcawI/AAAAAAAAEM0/LW7eByuhhUk/14Nov19front_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" align="right" height="220"></a> I've been making a few Christmas presents in the spare minutes I collect here and there. I made this <a href="http://www.sew4home.com/comment/40222" target="_blank">wallet</a> for a co-worker I've only met a couple of times, even though we've worked together for about three years now. She works in a town about three hours from here, but we connect just about every day by internet. I know that she's an outdoorsy type - she tells me about her weekends on the ski hills and hiking, and shows me pictures of her backpacking vacations. She says she loves sea turtles, so when I began looking through my drawers of fabric for something suitable, this gorgeous Robert Kaufman pattern screamed "Pick me! Pick me!"</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6M7iIJId8Pw/VG9UrhxiwGI/AAAAAAAAEM8/z0bvwd-5XMw/s1600-h/14Nov19back%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Nov19back" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Nov19back" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g0LBAUGA9Mc/VG9UsWOtfiI/AAAAAAAAENA/d1hgT9Sd2Q8/14Nov19back_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" align="left" height="214"></a> As I attempted to make it as perfect as possible, I proceeded to make more mistakes than usual. See the cool looking clamshell? It covers a hole from the metallic clasp which I put in the wrong place. And the little red stitches at the edge of the wallet? That was my attempt to tack down the fabric edge using "decorative" embroidery stitches because I cut the corners off the wrong end. The zipper opens at the wrong end, too, but hopefully that won't be a big issue. I couldn't fix that without taking too much apart. And then, I was trimming the excess fabric inside the wallet that was part of the D-ring tab - I turned my head to hear what Mr. ZQ was asking me just <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-92etrtZDNBQ/VG9Us3drrwI/AAAAAAAAENM/EIc04Nn4wqI/s1600-h/14Nov19insideA%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Nov19insideA" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Nov19insideA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CPC7jVJYvGs/VG9Utf0qBvI/AAAAAAAAENQ/zFAUXOz1obo/14Nov19insideA_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" align="left" height="312"></a> as I made the cut, and cut through one of the inside pockets. I just some stiff interfacing and glue to reconnect the pieces, and fortunately you can't really see it since it was inconveniently located next to the seam!<br>I'm becoming rather adept at fix-its. Just have to practice those "decorative" embroidery stitches. </p> <p>The “Live in the Sunshine” graphic I got off the internet somewhere and printed it onto a bit of cotton fabric with my inkjet. It’s a bit tricky to get fabric moving evenly through a printer – you have to reinforce it with something – in this case, I ironed it to freezer paper, taped a sheet of paper to it and watched carefully that it fed correctly. It worked the second time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ihzlGenZ9Js/VG9UtzZQJdI/AAAAAAAAENc/jHRhGU7jlWc/s1600-h/14Nov20wristlet%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Nov20wristlet" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Nov20wristlet" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l82Xo1Luun8/VG9UuViC2DI/AAAAAAAAENk/s7DKNjt7dcU/14Nov20wristlet_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" align="left" height="195"></a> Been also working on some bags that others have requested. Cats and music are the popular themes. And speaking of music, my recorder is back in action. My musical partner and myself have six Christmas concerts booked this year. We play with other acts, so we only actually play for less than half an hour at each one. Still, six is more than usual. I just love the sound of Christmas music being played by recorders. We’re talking about video-ing ourselves playing one of these days and posting it to the internet. I’ll let you know if that (ever) happens!</p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-59028371392288664382014-10-24T09:34:00.001-07:002014-10-24T09:34:30.476-07:00Friday Furball – Sun Lover<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B36JS7525U4/VEp_kcGfUdI/AAAAAAAAEME/Lb_ZwbkUj2w/s1600-h/14Oct24Rusty%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct24Rusty" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="14Oct24Rusty" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zgHoljiauzs/VEp_lAI9_TI/AAAAAAAAEMM/GgydKt4iLaE/14Oct24Rusty_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="524" height="365"></a></p> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242395970026187827.post-1552473026576968432014-10-16T17:38:00.001-07:002014-10-16T17:38:47.332-07:00Been busy<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RO2BMlkaDpg/VEBk802CydI/AAAAAAAAEKM/_I3j9dPzOHE/s1600-h/14Oct16hallbags%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16hallbags" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16hallbags" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gIbYAWbqUdg/VEBk9jp9CqI/AAAAAAAAEKU/IsYFbjZu8mg/14Oct16hallbags_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="216" align="left" height="302"></a> I'm thinking of renaming this blog. Something like, The Blog of Good Intentions. Or maybe, The Road to Hell is Paved with Blog Intentions.</p> <p><br>I just can't juggle like I used to. The good part of that is when I'm not blogging, it's because I'm busy at my sewing machine. Yessiree, I was sewing up a storm this summer, making and selling bags at the local Farmers Market. I didn't make a bundle of money - didn't come even close to covering my time, but I made enough to be able to afford a few more zippers and remnant bundles. Life is good. </p> <p>Or was. Now my sewing machine needs an infusion. Honestly, it's never been quite the same since the needle hammered the needleplate apart earlier this year. The stitches after that were less than crisp, <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pofhFtvpC8w/VEBk-ctfUOI/AAAAAAAAEKc/jORqr45lBKU/s1600-h/14Oct16hallbag%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16hallbag" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16hallbag" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vc_bfh7ESow/VEBk-xbwwdI/AAAAAAAAEKg/W3pQ1FjroBM/14Oct16hallbag_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" align="right" height="189"></a> and in the past two weeks they've turned downright ugly. The tension is whacked, and no amount of fiddling will make it right. So it's into the repair shop on Saturday when we go to the big city. One nice thing about spending most of my Saturdays this year at the Market selling bags is that a few people asked me for custom orders, and I'm still working on a couple. So I need my baby back in top form. <br></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1SEL7SAG6CE/VEBlAYFprmI/AAAAAAAAEKs/RzBDJHeYIvU/s1600-h/14Oct16catsbag%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16catsbag" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16catsbag" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nyI53BjtmN0/VEBlAm0csoI/AAAAAAAAEKw/rWc4iwXnZw8/14Oct16catsbag_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" align="left" height="186"></a> The stitching has gotten so bad that I was sewing together two pieces of material a few days ago, in an area that was going to be covered by lining, and the stitches looked so awful that I ripped them out and did it again. And I'm not usually that fussy!<br></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d3jWvrc-pPk/VEBlBVLqJPI/AAAAAAAAEK8/RShpf3eSZZE/s1600-h/14Oct16bbag%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16bbag" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16bbag" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aYl-9BLFWmw/VEBlBrZ4BOI/AAAAAAAAELA/cGZ5q4nt8gE/14Oct16bbag_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" align="right" height="146"></a> The other thing that consumed my time this past month was the vegetable garden! Tons and tons of tomatoes. And a bumper crop of hot peppers - de Arbol chilis, Jalapenos and Habaneros. Thanks to that huge mound of dirt next to the garden, left there when the paving blocks were put down last summer, the pepper plants were warm and happy all year. My husband learned how to can <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dGw6obSVBzg/VEBlCZPqdkI/AAAAAAAAELM/SwJdr1trmBw/s1600-h/14Oct16wallet1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16wallet1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16wallet1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QHuLcAThGSM/VEBlCxnB1HI/AAAAAAAAELU/TPYE2Nv8cdw/14Oct16wallet1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" align="left" height="185"></a> from one of our neighbours, and has turned several tons of tomatoes into tomato sauce - a fantastic addition to our Friday night home made pizzas. I've also made a few jars of tomato chutney and some salsa. And there are still more tomatoes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uTLwY3ac8n0/VEBlDw20q7I/AAAAAAAAELc/p5fHLWWtIgg/s1600-h/14Oct16wallet2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16wallet2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16wallet2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GzXqV93ulBE/VEBlEdrXBHI/AAAAAAAAELk/bbsG4t-g788/14Oct16wallet2_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" align="right" height="179"></a> I highly recommend the Amish Paste heirloom tomato as a tasty and highly prolific sauce tomato. The Super Italian Paste isn't bad, either. And I entered my Brandywine beefsteak tomatoes in our Fall Fair in September and won First prize! (Yes, I still have the ribbon.) They are the BEST eating tomato I've ever tasted. <br></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x_kWNcV3rG0/VEBlE3-VdSI/AAAAAAAAELs/0OY9Qgikwk8/s1600-h/14Oct16toatoes%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="14Oct16toatoes" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="14Oct16toatoes" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eJtFC4RmCyQ/VEBlFWIZFVI/AAAAAAAAELw/Z0GFwp4VRAA/14Oct16toatoes_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" align="left" height="223"></a> I grew dozens of tomato (and pepper) plants from seed this Spring and sold them at the Market. What I didn't sell, I planted in my garden, but I sold a lot. Several customers came by my table at the Market later in the year to let me know that the plants they bought from me out grew and out produced the plants they bought from the local nurseries. I'm already making plans for next year's plants.</p> <p>If you want to try any of these bags, here are the patterns that I based them on: you can find the <a href="wristlet here" target="_blank">wristlet here</a>, the <a href="http://www.sew4home.com/comment/40222" target="_blank">wallet here</a>, and the <a href="http://www.fishsticksdesigns.com/blog/treat-bags-and-a-tutorial/" target="_blank">Halloween Treat Bags</a> here.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Until next time,</p><img style="border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/37/35493087735B65B255F2F162432CEA5D.png"> Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02856089450984186042noreply@blogger.com1