Community Pride

Our community has a thriving arts community.  They have a building where they are able to display and sell their creations, a Facebook (Burk's Falls Art and Crafts Club Art Centre) page and members from all parts of our region.  I joined it last year and today went to the monthly business meeting.  I find that belonging to the club, in addition to it being another venue for promoting and selling my quilts, gives me a chance to meet other artists in the area.  There seems to be representatives of nearly every aspect of art-painters, woodworking, jewelry, soap, hand made cards, scarves, clothing, bags, quilts and much, much more.
I am very proud of the fact that despite the low population we have a disproportionate number of very talented people.  I have in the past mentioned the musicians, writers and actors that also live here.

I believe that if you like something you should support it.  In some cases,  that means buying and promoting and in others, volunteering for. I am the volunteer Public Relations Committee person for the center.
What aspects of your community make you proud? 
Blessings,

Dead or Not.

Aren't icicles lovely?  These are hanging outside one of my studio windows and the bright sun is making them shimmer. 
I just discovered how dependant I am on my cell phone.  The battery has quit and needs to be replaced so the phone is not working.  I have ordered a new battery and hope it will be here before we leave for a 2 hour plus drive through the snow belt on Thursday.  A friend thinks he has an extra battery which may work in my phone so I will check that out tomorrow.
In the meantime, since Monday morning and now, there has been 3 occasions when I needed the phone.  Now, for those who have their phone permanently attached to their ear, this may seem like a negligible number but it is inconvenient for me.  I rarely use it but, when I want to, I like to know it is there.  I like to know it is there even if I don't need to use it.
Of course, now that I have ordered the battery, the phone has decided to take a charge so whether the replacement arrives in time or not, I may be able to still use this one for a bit longer.
Blessings,

The Wrong Fabric

Definitely not spring yet but the sun is bright and quite warm.  My quilt room windows are placed so they catch the winter sun but less of the summer.  On a day like this, the room gets quite warm but when there isn't any sun, I have to put on my little electric fireplace.
I have just been out for our walk and it was nice.  I had to break a trail for Heidi as her short little legs have a hard time plowing through the snow.  She normally hates to follow as she seems to have got the notion that she is the pack leader.  However, she has gradually got the idea that when I hold the leash behind me and tell her to 'stay back' it is for her own good.
I am a bit irritated with some fabric.  I had great hopes of finishing a top today.  All the fabric was chosen, blocks made and sewn together and the first border put on.  I got out the fabric for the last, and widest, border and realized it felt too heavy.  I remember buying this as a backing fabric from an on line quilt store so it is supposed to be good fabric.  I am going to have to find-or buy, something else.  This will go into the drawer that holds my dressmaking fabric.  It will be suitable for a light jacket.
Very frustrating.  I think I have enough fabric left over from the blocks to do a border but will have to take off the other border as it won't work.  Ah, well, it may end up looking better than my first idea.
Blessings,

Norman Rockwell.

I haven't accomplished much today.  Did some shopping and that was about it.  I bought some more fabric-surprise- and will wash it later.  One of the pieces is a panel of Norman Rockwell prints.  They are large enough to make pillows but I think I will cut them apart, put Missouri star blocks  around  as well as another border or two and make a lap quilt.  I have always liked his paintings so this will be a nice addition to the house.  Maybe I will put it on the rocker where I do my hand quilting.

I bought some bird seed/suet bells which I am going to hang once I have finished this.  With all the cold we have been getting, the little feathered creatures need all the help they can get.  I am just trying to think where I can put it that won't tempt the deer.
I have all the blocks made for my tumbler quilt so I will start adding the sashing to it.  I also need to do some more rows on the quilt that is on the frame.  Perhaps tomorrow.  Never a shortage of things to do. Hubby is feeling quite a bit better today so he is able to do his usual chores which include making supper a couple of times a week.
Have you ever browsed through all the Missouri Star Quilt Co. tutorials?  I was looking for something and was surprised at how many she has done.  In addition to the quilt patterns, she also has such things as cleaning your sewing machine and explaining quilting terms.  One talented lady.
Blessings,

Another One Finished.

I finished sewing on the binding for this quilt last night.  Today, I have been cutting blocks for another small crib sized quilt.  By the way all the main blocks are the same colour.  I didn't notice how the light changed some of them. the darker ones are the most accurate shade.
Are you surviving the cold?  We were minus 35 with wind chill today but I went for a quick walk anyway.  I put booties on Heidi as well as her warmest blanket and we did a quick jaunt down the driveway and back.
The driveway got a quick plow today so we will be able to get out tomorrow.  He has to come back and use the bucket to move the snow as it is too frozen to be pushed back with a blower.  Once that gets done, hubby should be able to manage again with our tractor. 
Blessings,

A Squishy Surprise

I am continuing to get things accomplished-probably thanks to the nasty weather.  On Monday, I didn't take my sewing machine to group.  My back was really bothering me and my machine is heavy but the real reason was that I wanted to work on cutting up some of my scraps.  I use a lot of 5 inch squares and I like to have a good pile of them cut and ready to use.  By the time the day was finished,  the scrap bag was half empty and I had a nice pile of squares.  I was going to work on them today but decided to leave it until tomorrow.  It is supposed to be bitterly cold and rather than run the electric heater in the studio, I can take my board and fabric into the kitchen and work on the table.  I did get another 10 tumbler blocks made and am almost ready to decide what fabric I want to use for sashing.
My hubby still isn't feeling well although has been able to tend the chickens and bring in firewood.  I am determined not to get his cold.  So many people have the flu or a cold right now.  Normal for the winter time though, isn't it.
I had a wonderful surprise yesterday.  When I picked up my mail there was a nice squishy package in my slot.  It was a kit from a very nice lady who sent it to me for no reason other than she is a nice lady.  I have it sitting on my coffee table and every time I look at it, I smile.  Isn't it wonderful when someone does something so kind. 
It is snowing so hard right now that I can hardly see down our driveway.  Heidi and I did get out for our walk but it was heavy going.  I had to pick her up and free her little feet of some of the snow once.  House is lovely and warm though so no complaints.
Blessings,

Accomplishments

I have had a productive day.  I only had one goal and that was to locate the bag of 5 inch squares that I wanted for my tumbler quilt.  I found that without any problem and that led to pulling out all the other bags with fabric, blocks and scraps.  I have sorted, tossed out and reorganized.  I have discarded a lot of bits and pieces as well as blocks that will never be used in anything, partially completed quilts that won't be quilted and fabric that makes me wonder why I've kept it. 
This will all go to a recycling place where it will, no doubt, be loved by someone.
It took me all morning and part of the afternoon to accomplish this.  Then I cut binding for a quilt that I finished at least two months ago and have attached it.  I will hand sew that tonight while watching the news.
It is nice to start the new year with a feeling of accomplishment and organization.  I am sure that by the time we are half way through this new year, I will need to do this again.  We do seem to accumulate, don't we?

Tomorrow, my goal is to put away all the Christmas decorations.  I discovered another method of recycling this year.  A friend asked if she could have our tree (real) when we were finished with it as her goats will nibble on it.  I love it when my cast offs can be put to use by someone else.
Blessings,