Hello, Mojo

Have started something...something unneeded, unplanned, and uncomplicated. No rules, just fun, using instincts instead of patterns.

AND best of all...using my much loved and never yet cut collection of Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile! The evidence:

Yup, the quilting mojo is making a comeback! ;)

Something for the spouses

You know those people we married? The ones that aren't bugging us right now so we can be on the computer blogging and reading blogs? Kaelin from The Plaid Scottie has aptly named them "the quilting widow(er)s" and has planned a day for us to honor them with a little crafty something for all their patience as we spend time with our other great love, the sewing machine ;) How about joining us? More details here.

Have you seen my quilting mojo?

I seem to have lost it somewhere....

Yes, I continue to BUY quilting fabrics such as these:

And I still see potential quilt designs in 90% of man and nature. My little idea book has pages and pages of inspiration.

BUT I just don't seem to have the energy to GET STARTED. Feeling kind of overwhelmed. I think that, because I am "maturing" as a Quilt Meister, I feel I should challenge myself. But then I get part way into a design and wonder why the heck (f#%*) I didn't just do something more simple.

I think I need a quickie, my friends. We'll see if I can get the mojo to make that happen ;)

Linen and lace

Made a clutch for my best friend since childhood, Michele, who was celebrating another trip around the sun!

Here is a secret- I love old lady lace. It makes me feel fancy. My aunt gave me a bunch when she cleaned out her mom's sewing supplies when her mom moved into a nursing home recently. Swoon! So decadent. So I decided to cut into a bit here, pair it with some linen, for this simple, soft look.

In this photo, you can also see how I am rocking a pasta necklace, another must have accessory, courtesy of my kids :-)

Inside, I brightened it up with a couple prints I grabbed some time ago from the local quilt store. I love how the floral print is a bit "antique" but the colors are so vibrant! I used one print for the lining and a coordinating one to do a little double pocket, just right for stashing a credit card, license, and some cash.

This frame has loops and can be used with a detachable chain to wear over the arm, if preferred.


While I was at it, I made another ballerina bag for her youngest daughter, Serah, who wanted one just like her big sister's as she will be starting dance class in the fall :-)

The two girls just had a joint birthday party, and let me tell you, it was one heck of a bash! It was ice cream themed, complete with an outdoor parlor, and the weather was perfect...just check out a few of these photos :-)

Mail!

Canada Post is currently in full-out strike mode (boo!!), but before that happened, I had me a good mail week :-)

First off, I have to say a big thank you to the awesome people in Blogland who encouraged me to get back up on the swap horse after my first (crappy) experience. After I posted about that one, the amazingly thoughtful Sandy insisted she send a gift my way. And then in the last month or so, I have "inadvertently" gotten myself into a bunch of private swaps, ALL of which are going so great! So, this week, I trotted down the to the post office with my little side kick, bribed her with a cookie to keep quiet while I taped up my first bundle of packages (these ones going to Sandy, Alison, Kaelin and Amy). Ladies, don't judge a package by its cover because my packaging/tape job is really quite comical! Look like they were done by a cat or at least an animal without opposable thumbs. Anyways, after selling a kidney, I was able to pay Canada Post what was required to send them on their merry way. More on the contents later :-)
Speaking of swaps, I have already received my parcel from Amy...check out this adorable kidlet basket she made for me using her sweet new "My Happy Place" fabric. I love it, Amy! And she included some extra fabric, a button and a bloom transfer in its pocket. Thanks so much! Lucky me :-)

My new friend Jeannie also sent me a huge bundle of interfacing in the mail. She had said she was going to send me samples of a couple types so I could see their texture and such before ordering online, but instead she sent me a whole stack which will be put to good use in my framed purse production line of late :-) Thanks, Jeannie!

My mate Kelli was kind enough to send me a load of Denyse Schmidt's Australian version of her latest fabric. Drool! I will put it together with my stack of the American prints and plan to use it in Elizabeth's quilt-a-long! On my own schedule, of course ;)

Also, got myself some yardage of Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile. I actually still have this whole line, uncut- so why order more? I plan to use this buttery goodness on the back of a yet-to-be-designed quilt involving my rainbow Liberty of London bundle! And I WILL get over my anxiety and cut into the Little Folks bundle, eventually!

Lastly, I got myself a little something for the sewing room from Aunty Cookie in Australia. How cute is this print?

While I was at it, I got a half yard of this adorable linen. Expensive, but I know just the project(s) for it!

Now, just a couple more swap presents to send out! I love mail :-)

Hanging out at Quilt Class 101

The lovely Bec from Chasing Cottons has invited me over to do a guest post on my unusual Dumbbell spray basting method in her Quilt Class 101 series.

Have you checked out Quilt Class 101 yet? Each week Bec posts some awesome tutorials and pointers about each step in the quilting process. A great resource whether you are new to quilting or want to learn some new tricks! Go swing by and say hello :-)

after the storm.

Well, as I have discussed before, we are having flood issues up here, and Lake Manitoba, where we recently bought a little family cottage, has been hard hit. It is a unique lake- a combination of large and shallow, which spells trouble when it comes to wind as it generates large, destructive waves. The "first" wind storm struck in late May. All communities on the lake had a mandatory evacuation, and no one was allowed back in for several weeks as the area was being secured. Monday things had calmed down enough that it was finally our opportunity to see the damage to our property first hand.

Our cottage before (last summer):

Our cottage on Monday, showing results from the storm:



You will notice- our big wooden pier (and only protection): lost. Trees: uprooted. Grass and yard: gone. Our siding torn off. The front end of the cottage suspended in air, all supports ripped away, inside floor visible through the holes in the exterior wall. Debris riddles the lake, sharp objects protruding from the sand.

Our neighbor: cottage owners since the 1970s, and permanent residents for the past 20 years. A sweet couple in their late 70s- he still water skis every summer! He was reduced to tears when he talked about being driven out of his home. They do not anticipate the area will be habitable again this year- residents must remain in hotels or with family members.



2 doors down: S. and D. had sent out invitations for their July 9 wedding on the beach. Not looking too "happily ever after." They are now scrambling to find a new venue....

So many stories like this. The worst part: the water continues to rise and is not expected to crest until the END of July. We spent the day Monday moving out all of our belongings, toting them to the road in a canoe across the back of our flooded back yard while wearing chest waders. There are fish trapped in our back yard, swimming around, pushed here when the waves rose up! We fully expect what is left to fall like a house of cards in the next storm :( As far as we are concerned, it is game over. Our cottage has already been deemed unsafe to enter by engineers.


If you can help people in the region....Thank you :)

Toronto :-)

The hubs and I enjoyed a great 4 day kid-free break in Toronto this past week (thanks, Grandparents!). He had a conference and it was our 11th anniversary, so I tagged along. We spent a year living in T.O. back when our son was a baby, and we have great friends and fond memories there....always love when I get a chance to go visit! Had breakfast with my Mommy group buddy Julie, dinner with my good friend Anna and her new-to-me beau (thumbs up, he's a keeper), and got to spend a bit of each day with my BFF Samantha :-) Oh yah, and some quality, uninterrupted time with My Man as well ;)

I didn't take many pictures as I was too busy having fun, but I did score me some AWESOME new shoes at Trove on Bloor Street West. Loving yellow.


Sam and I also cruised Queen Street West and shopped in all the awesome little stores. I hit up several yarn shops, this one was my favorite.


Also LOVED this paper store! Look how they have paper on bolts like fabric- swoon!


By night, we also enjoyed the town. Delicious dinners and a couple shows. I love musicals, so we got ourselves tickets to Billy Elliot. And, better yet....tickets to Glee with Sam and Jordan. I confess I have become a bit of a Gleek this year, I store up shows on my PVR to watch while I am hand stitching binding :-) It was a great concert!




Great to visit, but great to come home again. Until next time!

At some point you have to ask yourself.....

....when did I lose control? Have I completely lost my mind??

For me, that moment was tonight, the day before the last day of preschool, as I left the house at 9 p.m. in search of 9 presents for teachers gifts. And then again, at 10:30 p.m., as I cranked out hand made corresponding Starbucks gift card holders.

Stuck 'em to these super cute cookies I actually hauled back from Toronto (more on that trip later).


Did I mention I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. for boot camp, followed by work and 2 kids soccer games (not to mention a certain game 7 in the Stanley Cup)? Or that I have not yet unpacked my suitcase from Sunday from my trip? Or that due to the lack of groceries in my house I haven't eaten a fruit or vegetable in 2 days, unless you count those found on pizza or the ketchup with my fries?

Anyways, time to pack it in for tonight. But I think they turned out pretty cute.


Now just have to get 2 bags made in time for a birthday party this weekend.....