Mushy Brain

My brain feels like mush.  After we got back from shopping this morning, I  stayed at the computer for the rest of the day and evening.  I am making good progress but it will need a lot of fine tuning.
It has been very hot again today and is supposed to be a repeat tomorrow. I have a fan going in the studio and the air condition is on in the main part of the house.  It doesn't get really hot in here thanks to all the trees surrounding us and the extra insulation in the walls.

By the end of the day the temps. creep up thought.
That is it for tonight,
Blessings,

May Challenge

This month's challenge for the Island Batik( islandbatik.com) Ambassadors was to make a pillow.  The hardest part about the project was to chose the pattern.

I am very fond of stars and star variations so I decided on the Entwined Star.  I changed the colour layout so it looks quite different from the original.

Original Block

My Version

It is amazing how changing a few colours can make a block look entirely different. This will look nice on my bed as the quilt there is blue and brown.
I am now working on  half dozen placemat.  Of course, Island Batik is my fabric of choice.
It has been quite hot here the past few days so I am quite happy to stay in side, work on my course and quilt.
Blessings,

Feathered Friends

We are having quite the spring for seeing different birds.  We were really excited when we saw a mating pair of rosy breasted grosbeaks and then today another big moment.  An indigo bunting landed in a small maple just outside the living room window.  It was just a quick landing and then it flitted off but we did have a chance to see it.  We are hoping he stays.

Photo from the internet

I am keeping our bird feeder stocked even though there is probably lots of other food readily available.  We will now keep watching to see if we have a female bunting.
A robin has decided to build a nest on the hydro box right beside the front door.  I am not sure whether they are going to be upset by our comings and goings but am hoping they are used to us.
There are at least one pair of geese that have set up housekeeping on our pond.  We normally get ducks but the geese have only used the pond as a restaurant.  Our loons are back.  Not sure about the heron as we haven't seen it yet.
Love living in a rural area.
Blessings,

Bored Quilts

I am feeling a bit at odds because I am suddenly not as busy as I was before.  I have just finished next weeks assignment for my web course so am well ahead.  The following week it will be a lot more difficult so I wanted to get ahead but it does feel funny not having a looming deadline.
It was quite warm today and was thankful for the AC in my car as I had some running around to do in the village.  Tomorrow will be visiting a friend so she can give me some feedback on the table cover she has asked me to make for her.
I took a couple more items into the Art Centre in hopes that someone will purchase them.
We are supposed to be getting some rain Friday and Saturday which is good because the garden needs it.
The black flies are here but aren't much of a bother yet.  We don't have to be covered head to foot in netting which is a blessing.  I am sure they will start their onslaught soon but it is nice to have them less pesky for a bit.
Tomorrow I am planning on getting my cushion cover finished and perhaps start a set of placemats.  Don't want the completed quilts in the cupboard to get bored having the same ones to talk to all the time.
Blessings,

Frugal Quilting

I submitted the first step of my web course test today.  This week we had to do an outline of the web site; what it will include etc.  (Watching a hummingbird at the feeder outside the window.)  That part was easy as I have been thinking about it for a while.  I am not going to get overconfident though as I know it will get progressively more difficult.
I finished quilting my pillow top today and also worked on the quilt that is on my frame.  Two or three more passes and it will be done.
A friend shared a link to a site I found quite interesting.  www.frugalquilting.com has some interesting ideas.  You might want to scroll to the bottom of her page to check out other links.
I have included her opening comments here.
Blessings,

The Joy of Frugal Quilting What is Frugal Quilting?

When I was a little girl, I slept under a quilt that my grandmother made out of my old dresses.  That was a very frugal quilt. There are other ways to make quilting frugal.  Quilting can be an expensive hobby, or it can be done in a very economical way. You don't have to invest in a multitude of quilting tools or patterns.  It only takes a handful to tools to start quilting.  Specials rulers and other quilting papers and gadgets come in handy, but are not necessary.

If you go a long time without using special quilting rulers, you forget how to use them.  Then you have to spend your time learning how to use them again. At best it is a quick review.  At worst, you've lost the instructions and can't remember how to use them.

You don't need patterns to quilt.  Once you learn the basics of quilting, you will have more fun making your own blocks and putting them together in your own unique way. 

This website will teach you what I call "simple measurements."  Once you learn this concept, it will be very easy to make blocks that all fit together.

This website is dedicated to teaching how to save money quilting and how to be a frugal quilter.

www.frugalquilting.com

A Good Hot Cuppa

Today was our bird day.  We got our hummingbird feeder up yesterday after the male representative of our returning family let us know they were back.  He always flies past the living room window so we can see him and put out the feeder.  We had two dancing around this morning and deciding who was going to be the alpha bird.
About the same time, while we were sitting outside, we saw a bird that sent me into get our books.  It took a while and Facebook confirmation for us to agree that we had a Rosy-Breasted Grosbeak-two of them, in fact.

I took a photo while we were trying to identify it but thought it was too far away to show much.  I was pleasantly surprised when I cropped it down to find that I did have a good picture.
With the latest royal wedding a few hours away, there has been a lot of focus on a cup of tea.  Anyone who knows me, knows that this is my favourite beverage.  I like it strong and black.  The water has to be boiling not just hot.  It is pretty much impossible to get a decent cup of tea in most restaurants as they use the water from the coffee maker.  Ugh!  The scum on top of the water is always a give away even before you taste it.
Here are some quotes from other tea lovers that had been shared on Facebook.

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~ CS Lewis
The most trying hours in life are between four o clock and the evening meal.  A cup of tea at this time adds a lot of comfort and happiness. ~ Royal S Copeland
I got nasty habits; I take tea at three. ~ Mick Jagger
Tea makes everything better. ~ Bindi Irwin
I was always brought up to have a cup of tea at halfway up a rock face. ~ Bear Gryls
‘There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~ Bernard-Paul Heroux

Blessings, 

Hummers are Back

I did something today which I haven't for a long time:  I read a book.  I haven't finished it yet so I guess "am reading" is a better phrase.  I finished as much as I could without assistance on my course and decided to just stop.  It was nice enough to sit outside so that is what I did.  The blackflies have arrived but aren't biting yet so I was able to stay until supper time.
I will get my garden planted this week and then on Tuesday, I shall be ready to start the course test.  It goes on for 8 weeks.
Our hummers are back so we got one of the feeders put up.  Will add at least one more.  We get a mating couple that returns each year and would like to encourage more.  They tend to be territorial so an extra feeder or two might help.
Still haven't really done any quilting.  I will be able to get at it at group on Monday as it is a holiday.
If you are on the road, stay alert.  Victoria Day weekend is usually when the most collisions happen.
Blessings,

First Quilt Show of the season.

The weekend approaches.  Tomorrow hubby and I are going to a quilt show in a nearby village.  I believe it is the first time they have one  so am looing forward to seeing what they have.  I can face the day with a clear conscience as I have everything caught up and have started my laundry tonight so will be able to get that on the line in the morning.  I am planning on leaving in the late morning for the show as they also have lunch available.  I promised hubby I would buy him the meal.
I know that not all men like going to something like this but mine does.  As an artist, he enjoys the fabrics and colour.  He also appreciates the amount of time that goes into making each work of art. The meal is a little thank you for being so wonderful.
I need to get my quilts ready to hang in the art centre as it opens next weekend.  I like to have a number of smaller items to sell in addition to the larger ones as people like to support but don't always have a lot of extra money.
I am going to offer dribble bibs and small purses which are just the right side for credit and store points cards.
Have a great weekend
Blessings,

How Many Patterns?

It seems that many quilters are trying to use up their stash of fabrics.  This is fairly easy until you get down to scraps.  There are many scrappy patterns available but sometimes it is nice to find something a tad different.
One of the ladies in our LQG brought in two sample blocks made with 2.5" squares and I really liked them.  I also got curious about how many patterns using that size square I could find on the internet.  I gave up after one search as there is far too many  but I did like this one.
Hope you find something of interest on this link.



https://www.bing.com/search?q=2.5%22+squares+quilt+patterns&src=IE-

I sold one of my wall hangings today.  Always a happy event.
Blessings,

Reliving the Past

Another lovely spring day.  Our daffodils are starting to bloom and the trilliums are up.  We have different birds foraging amongst the grass looking for stray seeds.  We have red winged blackbirds in the wetlands but the regular non redwinged variety have appeared closer to the house.
My sister and I had a lovely visit and stroll down memory lane.  We visited the village where we lived as children, had an ice cream at the general store and tried to remember who used to live in the various houses.  Then we drove to another village about 5 miles away.  Mom used to bet we couldn't walk there and back and bribed us with 10 cents each.  You could buy a lot of candy for a dime back then.  We made the trip on foot without incident a number of times but when driving there we got lost.  Not actually lost but not able to find the village without referring to GPS.  The curve we were familiar with had become an intersection which confused us.
The rest of the time we spent in Lindsay.  Saturday morning, the north side of the main street was without power but most of what we wanted to see and do was on the other side; including going to the quilt store.  I got a really cute panel with a lot of different dog blocks on it.  I am going to cut the panel into squares and sew pieced borders between them.  But, that will have to wait for a bit.
We were fortunate in not having any damage from the windstorm that caused so much havoc without the region. Hope you can stay the same.
Blessings,

A Day Off

I have managed to get a bit of quilting finished.  Here is 2 more of those little 365 blocks.  They went together quickly and I have another pair on the go.  I may get them all done this year if I keep at it.

 Signs of spring:  Our rhubarb is coming up, there are a few spring flowers making an appearance and we have pussy willows.  These two shrubs are along our driveway.

Tomorrow, I am taking a day off and meeting my sister for a night out.  Not doing anything exciting.  We are going to revisit the area where we were raised and do a little shopping.  Mostly, we will visit and catch up what is happening in our lives.  She and our other sister visit weekly via Skype but there is always so much more that you don't have time to share.
Blessings

Obedient Chickens

Whew, I am tired.  Been slugging away at my course but also trying to get a bit of the outdoor work done.  Raked the yard and a couple of the flower beds.  There is still snow in some places but the light raking got rid of some of the dead leaves and grass not to mention the  unmentionables liberally sprinkled everywhere.
Hubby is working on the last of the syrup.  He was finished but a few more gallons had gathered in the buckets so he decided to do that as well.  The trees have lost their ornaments now so there won't be any more sap to tempt him.
Our chickens are enjoying being able to be free in the yard.  They are very obedient in coming to the coop when I arrive to give them their evening feeding.  I am often glad my city friends can't see me in my rubber boots, gloves and cane surrounded by a flock of milling chickens.
Long gone are the days of high heels and make-up.
Blessings,