Well Dressed Dolls

I have been working on making doll clothes today.  I always make an outfit to dress a doll for the fall fair, usually a dress.  this year I am doing something different.  I am doing a jump suit of purple fabric that has some glitter and then a cape to go over it.  Perfect for a winter's night on the town.
I have always enjoyed designing clothes and doing it for a doll is much easier - and cheaper that for myself.  Besides, just how many outfits can I use and it is highly unlikely that I will be needing much more than basic outfits with some nicer dresses for church.
I am still having problems with a sore mouth from the extractions and the bruising is very much evident so not going anywhere.  tomorrow, I go for a check up and I hope that there will be some marked improvement.
I must remember to weigh myself tomorrow to see if I have lost even a few ounces while on this, basically, liquid or mushy diet.  there is always a silver lining somewhere.
Hubby has started bringing our firewood closer to the house.  We are predicted to be getting more snow this winter so it will be easier if the means of keeping the house and ourselves is nearby.  I enjoy the 'getting ready to hunker down' feel of autumn.  Making preserves, filling the freezer, making sure drafts are dedrafted are all part of living in Canada and rural Canada in particular.
Blessings,

Fabric Winner, Where are You and Now I have More.

Today, hubby and I share our 25th anniversary.  We aren't doing anything special today as I had a lot of teeth pulled yesterday and am pretty much restricted to swallowing pain pills and drinking liquids.  However, I did get a couple of pieces of nice jewelry and there is a yummy cheesecake cake waiting in the freezer for when we/I can eat it.  My gift to him was tickets to our local Country Jamboree.

I announced the winner of the fabric draw Saturday but still haven't heard from her.  Donna, you have two more days to get in touch and then I will have to draw another name.

Hubby went into the village today to do a few odds and ends and picked up the mail while there.  I had a nice parcel waiting.
My new shipment of Island Batik fabrics had arrived.  I have already thought of a project for the precut strips. 

The photo below is the centre of the block of the day quilt so many of us are struggling through.  I just have them on the design wall but am hoping they will encourage me to keep going.

Blessings,

And The Winner Is.....

Our contest winner is Donna W.  Donna, please contact me with your mailing address.  I have deleted your entry so when I hear from you, I will know it is you.
thank you to all who entered.
I will have more draws in the future.

One More Day

We have our new floor and it looks so nice.  Hubby and our friend worked hard all day while I was out quilting.  Do I feel bad?  A tiny, tiny bit but I did make cookies and made sure they had lunch ready.  they just have the trim to do tomorrow and I will be here then.
Tomorrow is the last day to enter my draw.
All eligible entries have been numbered and my husband will draw the winning number.  I would love to be able to give everyone something but I am afraid my wallet won't extend to that.  Do hope the winner enjoys the Island Batik fabrics as much as I do.
Blessings,

Day Three of the Fabric Draw and a Recipe

It has been a rather odd day.  This morning, we got everything but the TV and big furniture moved from the living room so the men can do the flooring.  I made some cookies so everyone will have something to keep them energized and then I just frittered. 
I have everything ready for when the Quilting Queen's get together-so named because we love our tea and we are all regal (another woman's description). Tomorrow we are going shopping before we get down to quilting.  We don't usually do that but there is a sale on at the fabric store.  We won't be doing anything but cutting at this get together.  The sashings and borders have to be cut and there are a lot of them so it may take more than one day.
The trees on the driveway are definitely changing colour.  It doesn't feel like fall yet as it is still quite warm but the nights are cooler.
Here is a recipe for peanut butter cookies that is easy to make, gluten and sugar free.
1 c. natural peanut butter (well stirred)
1/2 c. sugar substitute
1 egg
1/8 tsp. sea salt.

Preheat over to 350.  Mix all ingredients together.  Peanuts or chocolate chips can be added.  Form dough into balls, place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper, flatten with a fork and cook for 10 min. or until lightly brown.

Don't forget to enter my draw for some lovely Island Batik fabrics if you haven't already done so.  All the information is in Monday's blog.  Also remember to check out the other blog hop posts to see the quilts and enter for prizes.
Blessings,

Fabric Giveaway-Day 2

I hope you have entered my fabric give away.  If not, be sure to read yesterday's post for all the details.  If you have, keep checking out the other Island Batik blogs for more prizes and to see the great quilts that the Ambassador's have designed.  This has been a fun challenge and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
I forgot to include a beach appropriate recipe yesterday so be sure to watch for that tomorrow.
I will try and keep up my post for the rest of the week although I am going to be busy getting ready for our new flooring to be laid in the living room.  Everything has to be moved and then put back again.  We will take the opportunity to clean and sort as well.
Our weather has been lovely the past few days.  Cooler but still sunny.  Love it.  The leaves are getting serious about changing colour.
Blessings,

Blog Hop and Contest.

It is time for my post in the Island Batik blog hop.

My project is called After the Holidays.  I live in a tourist area, and, while we enjoy the vitality our

summer visitors bring, it is also nice when the cooler weather arrives, school starts and our streets are less crowded.  This seaside scene with abandoned cabana's and quiet beach reminds me of that time of year.

After the Holiday

After the Holidays-detail

This wall hanging was made from the wonderful Seashore fabric collection.   A sample of the fabrics is shown below. The picture doesn't do justice to the vibrant colours which can be seen better in the quilt but I have included a link below the scans so you go to the Island Batik site for a better look.  Copy and paste the link or click on the word  Seashore

http://www.islandbatik.com/shop/category/cotton/spring-2016/seashore/?showall=1&page_num=1

And Now:  here are the rules for my contest.  If you would like to win a selection of beautiful Island Batik fabrics, starting on MONDAY Aug. 22,  add a comment (area at end of blog) and tell me the name of one of the other quilts that have been featured on the blogs that have been posted to date. i.e the name of mine is 'After the Holidays'.  Don't forget to leave your name. Remember you need the name of another quilt from the blogs given.

Draw closes on Aug. 26th.  Only one entry per person.

Here is the list of he other blogs.  Be sure to check them out so you can see their projects.  Many of them are also holding contests

Seaside Summer Blog Hop Schedule

Monday Aug 15 - Rain Forest

KISSed Quilts

Tuesday Aug 16 - Red Tide

Free Motion by the River

Mary Mack Made Mine

Wednesday Aug 17 - Sand Dune

Purrfect Spots

KnitBug 2

Thursday Aug 18 - Seashore

Tammy Silvers

Pamela Quilts

Maria Michael Designs

KISSed Quilts

Friday Aug 19 - Surf Squirt

Quilting Affection

Archipelago Quilting

Monday Aug 22 - Tradewinds

Arkangel Creations

Bejeweled Quilts

Tuesday Aug 23 - Equinox

Kauffman Designs

Adele Mogavero * Del~Lillian's

Wednesday Aug 24 - Sea Canyon

Lemon Tree Snippets

Bea Quilter

Thursday Aug 25 - Sea Foam

Stone Cottage Quilts

Sew Supportive

Friday Aug 26 - Spoolin' Around

Sallys Quilting Corner

Toolontilkkupaja

Monday Aug 29 - Tide Pools

Inchworm Fabrics

MooseStashQuilting

Tuesday Aug 30 - Wind and Sea

For Quilts Sake

Patchwork Breeze

Wednesday Aug 31 - Spring Zing

Desert Bloom Quilting

Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Thursday Sep 1 - Splash

KISSed Quilts

The Patchwork Pearl

Friday Sept 2 - Landscapes

For Quilts Sake

Fabric Giveaway Rules

You will be able to enter your name to win some beautiful Island Batik fabrics on MONDAY, AUG. 22nd.  Do not enter before that date or you will be disqualified.

To enter, read my blog and answer the question about Island Batik, the fabrics or one of the other bloggers that will be part of this blog hop. Post your reply and name as a blog comment. (This blog)

Contest closes on Fri. Aug. 26th.  The winner will be notified Sat. morning.

There are also prizes being offered by other Island Batik Ambassadors who are part of the blog hop and I will be giving you the links to them on Mon.

Good luck.

Blessings,

Fabric Give Away-More Information.

I wasn't at this beach today although it would have been nice.  I was, as I mentioned yesterday, helping to staff the Art Centre.  We weren't busy but those that came in did make purchases which is always good.

I got the binding put on my wall hanging, did some knitting and read a book.  The other lady also got some of her hand work done as well as reading.  You know you are friends with someone when both of you can sit there reading.  We did chat, of course, but neither of us find it necessary to talk all the time.

Now:  some more info about the fabric give away.  I have decided to give out the rules tomorrow as I will be out on the 20th.

Please make sure you read the requirements carefully as, if you enter on the wrong day, you will be disqualified.

Blessings,

Border Challenges

I have had another busy day.  A customer dropped off a quilt and I've kept myself at the frame working on the one there.  I just have the two side borders to do which will be a bit of a challenge as they are longer than my frame is wide.
I didn't realize that the hydro was out in a lot of areas yesterday evening.  Our lights flickered a few times so we had to reset the clocks but that was it.  Our home town, Orillia, has flooded streets and there were a lot of trees down in other communities.
Tomorrow a quilting friend and I take our turn to volunteer staff at the Burk's Falls Art and Crafts Centre (check it out on Facebook and website).  It not likely will be very busy so it will be nice to relax a bit.  Of course, time goes faster if there are lots of customers so that will be alright as well.
Don't forget to stay tuned for info on the fabric draw.
Blessings,

Fabric Giveaway

It is still raining here and now in other parts of Ontario as well.  It is needed so badly on the farms and in our vegetable gardens so it is a very welcome sight.
I have had a productive day.  I have almost finished the customer quilt that is on my frame and just added the binding to my art quilt.  I had an odd situation while doing that.  I had cut four strips for the binding but only joined three which I sewed to the quilt.  As I was getting to the end of the last strip, I stopped to measure how much of the fourth strip needed to be added-and discovered that I didn't need any.  I had exactly enough left to join the two ends and finish sewing it on.  I don't know what the odds are of that happening but I haven't experienced it before.  I hadn't measured the quilt before cutting strips or, of course, I wouldn't have done the fourth one.  Weird.
I am going to be announcing the details of my next fabric giveaway later this week so you will want to watch for that.  It will be more of the fabulous Island Batik fabric.
Blessings,

Ahh, Rain!

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday.  A friend has a camper at a nearby campground and invited us over for a barbecue and swim.  Both were wonderful.  We haven't been swimming for a couple of years and I had forgotten how much I love the water.  It was nice to spend a bit of time visiting with good friends and relaxing.
Today I got quite a bit accomplished as the temperatures were a bit cooler.  I finished the quilt that was on the frame and loaded another.  Also did the last bit of applique on the Island Batik challenge quilt that will be part of a blog hop. 
We received notice yesterday that the laminate we ordered for our floors was in so hubby went and picked that up.  It is still in the van so we will have to get that in the house.  I am looking forward to having the floor done but it won't happen until the weather stays cool for a bit.  There always seems to be lots to do when you own a home, isn't there.
I still haven't decided about the fabric give away but hang in.  I will let you know soon.
We had a nice bit of rain today but can still use a lot more. 
If you read my blog on Facebook you might not be away that I have free patterns for those who are making charity quilts plus other links you might find interesting.
Have a great weekend.
Blessings,

Wrong Lenses.

Well this has been an interesting day.  Before I was able to see the optometrist, I had the 2 egg deliveries and then, afterwards, had an appointment to have my eyes checked again.  I got a bit of shopping done and then went back to the optometrists.  In the meantime, they had discovered that the wrong prescription had been used on my glasses.  Instead of the new one, the computer sent the previous one.  I wondered why they hadn't been any improvement in my vision.  I was glad to find out that neither had I lost my mind nor had the eye doctor not done her job. 
I had another check up to make sure there wasn't any changes and the new prescription was sent off.  It will be interesting to see how much improvement there will be with the new lenses.
From supper time onward, we had a steady stream of company.  The last people just left, I am getting this written and then hubby and I are going to relax.
I must take a picture of the trees on the road way.  We are getting quite a bit of fall colour.
I am planning on putting together some of the batik fabric for a draw this weekend and then I will be announcing the rules.
Blessings,

Another Fabric Draw?

We are back to having a heat wave again.  It seems we have a week of hot, a few days of normal and then back to the hot.  We got some outside work done during the break this time.  Hubby has been adjusting the mudroom which got a bit off kilter with the freezing and thawing and I took the opportunity to pull weeds.
I have also been getting caught up on my quilting (not the BOD though).  I am ready to put the borders on this month's Island Batik challenge and have the blocks made for another batik quilt I am making with some of the fabric left over from the various monthly challenges.  I am thinking of having another draw.  I will let you know.
We are going out to visit some friends tonight and then tomorrow I am off to see the optometrist.  I think a mistake was made in my prescription because I can see objects that are 15-20 feet away clearer without the glasses.  Or perhaps my eyesight has improved.  Unlikely.
Looking forward to Thursday when we are going to an area campground where a quilting friend and her are staying.  We will be able to go swimming for the first time this year as well as enjoy a barbecue.  As the temps are predicted to be in the 30's Celsius, lakeside will be the place to be.
Blessings,

Breezy

Glad we got that tree down yesterday.  It is quite breezy today.  The first photo shows our friend and neighbour, Eric notching the base of the tree to help it fall in the correct direction.  There is also a chain tied to it and another tree to assist in the directional fall.  The second photo shows the tree starting to topple and Eric heading in the other direction right after he yelled 'Run'.  His son and another friend were at the tree the other end of the chain was tied around.  Hubby was around the other corner of the house and I was way, way back with the dog and camera.

We had a short but heavy rainfall earlier this afternoon and it is marginally cooler now.  Just a tiny bit but it helps.

I started assembling the pieces for my next Island Batik project.  I have the section on the design wall and I like the way it looks so far.  I will sew these sections onto some light fabric to make the top.  I did debate just laying in on the batting/backing sandwich but the sections will be zigzagged together and I don't want that showing on the back.

Blessings,

Timber!

Had a 'to do' list today with 4 things I wanted to accomplish.  I needed to get them done in the morning before the temperature went up too high in the studio.  I managed to do all but one.  I got the photos for my latest magazine submission sent in, wrote in the instructions for a pattern that was sold to a magazine and did some work on the quilt that s on the frame.
After lunch I went outside to watch a dead tree be taken down.  It was, at a guess, about 80 feet tall and just on the other side of the driveway by the house.  If it toppled in a windstorm, it would have taken out pretty much all of the roof.  Hubby had noticed a rotten spot on one side when he cut back some shrubbery.  We knew it hadn't been doing well as there were limbs that didn't show any leaves this year but didn't realize how bad it was.  After it was felled, we saw that it was in even worse condition.There was a rotten hole right through the centre of the trunk.  We don't know how far up the tree that went as Hubby hasn't started cutting it yet but scary nonetheless.
One of our friends came over to remove the tree and it was really interesting to watch someone who was experienced.  He chose the spot where he wanted it to go and that is exactly where it went.
I was outside with the dog in case it did go the wrong way.  I also took the camera and got a couple of pictures.  The last one shows the tree as it was falling.  Scary and exciting at the same time.
We have a few more to be removed but they aren't as big as this one or as close to the house.
Blessings,

Looming Deadlines

Another scorching day.  Now that it has cooled down I am getting caught up on my emails and other pc work.  Little Heidi is laying on the cool tile floor beside me and hubby is outside working. 
I had to go to Huntsville today to buy groceries.  I thought it might be really busy but the stores weren't too bad at all.  I guess everyone was at the beach.
I got a box in the mail today that contained some fabric, 3 rulers and a quilt story that I had ordered.  I rarely read fiction as I just don't have the time but I think I might set aside a bit of time this weekend to do just that.  The book is first in a series so if I like it, I will get the rest at the library.
Can you believe it is just over 4 months to Christmas?  And the fall fair is at the end of this month.  I had better start planning for both events.  I envy those who start getting things ready months in advance of an occasion but I never seem to be able to do it.  I even try writing deadlines on the calendar but I know they aren't real so I ignore them.
I guess we are who we are.
Blessings,

Farms and Flowers

I have been out with my camera again.  The first two are flowers in my garden.  They all seem to be blooming so well this year despite the lack of rain.  I do go out and water them each evening but I don't think that takes the place of a good rainfall.

The bottom two photos were taken on a farm down the road from us.  I had driven by this tractor parked near the hay bales and kept thinking it would make a nice picture but always forgot to take the camera.  Today, I had to go out for a dental appointment, took the camera, and stopped on the way back.  Don't know if the property owners saw me but, if so, they didn't yell at me.  I always try to be careful to not include anything that would identify the place.  Of course, if you live in the area you would probably recognize it but, in that case, you are, no doubt, a nice person.

Blessings