Web page Updates

Web site update time.  I am site manager for the Burk's Falls Country Jamboree and it is time to update their site to reflect the 2019 line up.  There is a fair bit of work but I enjoy seeing it all come together.  Each time I do the site there is something new to learn.  This year customers are going to buy able to pay for their tickets through ecommerce which will be easier rather than doing cheques etc.
I haven't been feeling much like sewing lately (which is good as I will get the web site done) but did get a few bits and pieces finished.  I got a couple more rows of my scrappy centre block for the QAL done and almost finished a top.
Hubby was doing maple syrup today.  It was a good day for it but tomorrow and a lot of the rest of the week is calling for rain.  That means everything will have to be packed up until the sun shines again.
Blessings,

A New Thimble

Hubby brought home a nice box from  the post office today.  I had ordered three different backing fabrics as well as a new thimble and the tracking system said they wouldn't arrive until Tuesday.  The fabric has been washed and is now in the dryer.  Tomorrow I will be able to load one of the fabrics onto Queenie and finish another of my tops.

I used the thimble while watching the news and I really like it.  It is open on the one side with two claws that can be adjusted to finger size.  The other side is dimpled  but the part I like is the little bend, like the letter 'L" that goes over the end of your fingernail (great for long nails) and also provids a place for maneuvering the needle.  I have already been able to do smaller stitches and more at a time.  It is made by Clover and is just called Open Sided Thimble if you would like to check it out.  I bought mine at Connecting Threads.

It poured here all day.  At one point the internet went out because the signal couldn't get through.  I am afraid some areas to the south of us are going to get flooding.

Happy Resurrection Day and Passover,

Blessings,

Quilted Words

 

This is the other quilt I finished last week.  The top was made by someone else.  I did the quilting.  As it was a gift for my customer's father I 'wrote' words and phrases all over it.  They described who he was as a person, what he did, what he liked etc.  This has become one of my favourite quilting patterns for memory quilts and those for older recipients as it helps to remind them of how they are appreciated, remembered and loved.

    On my mother-in- laws quilt, I used a thread that blended too much.  This time I chose a dark navy      which went with the border fabric and the words are much easier to read.

On my mother-in- laws quilt, I used a thread that blended too much.  This time I chose a dark navy which went with the border fabric and the words are much easier to read.




The next time you make a quilt for a special person try this quilting method.  I like to think that many years from now my words will serve as a description of a long dead relative to  their descendants.
Blessings,

A New Great-Nephew

We have had an eventful weekend.  I have had partial success with the latest phone although it still isn't ideal.  Will be calling the provider again on Tues.
Sat. was mother-in-laws birthday and a family gathering.  It was wonderful seeing some of the nephews that we haven't connected with for a while.  The youngest is in high school and doing really well.  Another nephew and his partner brought their little one who had been born just a month previously.  Camdyn is a great, great nephew and handsome addition to the family.

Mom really like the quilt hubby and I gave her.

Mom's Lap Quilt

 Front close up.  I cut the stripped fabric on a diagonal for sashing and border.

I found this lovely flannel on Sew Sisters.  Perfect for the back.  I quilted it all over with words that described this much loved lady.

I also finished another quilt but will show photos of it tomorrow as I want to share a bit of momentous news.  My nephew and wife have been trying to have a baby for a few years with miscarriage being the only result.  Finally, she was able to carry full term and the little one was due this weekend.  I kept close to the internet and waited for the good news.  After 40, that's right-40, hours of labor, little Noah made his appearance.  It was a very difficult delivery but the young man is healthy and mom's is recovering.  They live in England so I won't be seeing him for a while.  I told them I am expecting a lot of photos.
Blessings,

The Saga Continues

Queenie was humming along beautifully today.  I was able to finish a top except for a couple of rows in less than 3 hours.  Isn't that amazing?  I can remember the days when I did all my quilting on my domestic and it would take ages to finish even a small quilt.  And, just when you thought you were finished, you found a great big pleat on the back. (Queenie is my Q'nique long arm machine)

I will get it completed tomorrow and  off to its owner.  Will also finish the binding on my mother-in-laws quilt this evening so I am getting some things accomplished.

What is not getting done is my cell phone problems.  I sold my last one privately and then drove to Huntsville to buy a replacement.  I went to the company that is my service provider as I thought I might get better reception that way.  I found a phone that looked as though it would do, brought it home and got ready to set it up.  Then I discovered that the SIM card wasn't included.  I never thought to look as it has always come with any phone I purchased.  I will buy that on Saturday and hope that this long drawn out saga is done.

Farm Quilter commented that she has similar reception problems where she lives but, even with that, wouldn't want to live anywhere else.  I agree.  Country living has its problems but it is offset by many good things.  A case in point is one of our neighbours coming over to cut down a couple of trees today for my husband.  We still have quite a bit of snow and he didn't feel confident operating a chainsaw on uneven footing.  The trees were dead and fairly close to the house so we are glad to have them on the ground and now we have extra firewood if spring continues to delay its entrance.
Blessings,

Third Return.

I am just jotting down a few words before I turn the computer off for the night.  I have had a nice birthday with many on line wishes as well as those done in person.  We celebrate birthdays in our Burk's Falls Village Quilter's group and today, I was the recipient of cake and a card.  It is always a fun time and we all look forward to the special days.  Some months have more than one birthday and others don't have any.  We have become quite creative in coming up with other celebrations for those months.
Hubby made me a nice supper and bought me an indoor plant.  We are getting past the giving of gifts as we either have what we need or can't afford it.
I finally got my fitbit synched with the cell phone so I can see what time it is as well as steps walked.  I am not happy with the phone, however, as it can't be used here.  I barely get one bar of  reception and that is only in one room of the house.  I am going to have to take this one back as well.  This will be the 3rd one.  They are going to get tired of me at the store but as I can't tell how the phone will operate until I get it home, it can't be helped.
Our snow is melting quickly now but the sap isn't running very well.  The temperatures for Tues and Wed should help otherwise this is going to be a very bad year.
Blessings,

A Valuable Discovery

I spent most of the afternoon shopping which, with my advanced years, I found exhausting.  Hubby had a doctor's appointment so after going to the grocery store, he dropped me off in the mall area so I could get the rest of what was needed.
One thing I had to do was take back the cell I bought and get another.  I am happier with this one and discovered, after reading the instructions (who knew) that I could take the SIM card from my old phone, put it in the new and have everything automatically transfer over.  That certainly saves a lot of fussing.  I am now going to take the card from hubby's old phone and put it in my old, but much better, one.  We both get to keep out existing phone numbers, plans, contacts etc.
I suppose you all knew about that  but it was a big discovery for me.
The morning was spent reading more of the tutorials for the Gimp program  My wee brain is getting a good stretch this week and it is only Tuesday.
I still have one more techie jog to do.  Once the phone is fully charged, I have to sync my Fitbit.  Hopefully, that goes smoothly.
Not getting much done for quilting but, fingers crossed, tomorrow I will get the binding on mother-in-law's quilt and get another loaded onto the frame.
Blessings,

Amazing Children.

My sewing machine is working again. I took it apart and did a bit more cleaning around and one the shuttle as well as adding a drop of oil to the wick in the centre of the shuttle holder.  When I gave it a try, it worked.  My camera USB cord also decided to work again.  Not sure why so many things went wrong at once but it doesn't matter as long as they are working again.
I spent much of the weekend trying out different programs similar to (but cheaper) Photoshop.  I think I have found one that is going to do everything I need.  Gimp is a free program and is designed much the same as Photoshop so the learning process shouldn't be very steep.

I took a couple of screen shots of our amazing grandchildren while we were Skyping on Sunday.  they are growing ups so quickly.  We are, of course, really proud of them.  They are kind and thoughtful young people.

We are blessed.