July and August Goals and yo-yoing along

It has been a while and I've been lazy posting lately.  Too much going on here right now.

Much, much progress has been made on my "Joseph's Coat" UFO.  There is a lot of appliqueing going on and it is slow going, but I can see the end in sight.  There will be another row added to the bottom and then borders to be decided.  That is still a ways yet.  This will be my goal for August for the Chookshed Stitchers Challenge.

Three quilts were picked up from my lovely LAer.  The Xmas quilt  (on top of the pile) will also be part of my goal for August.  I need that quilt for a demo that I will be doing for my night guild in September.  Hoping for a couple of cool days to get the binding on and sewn down.

My young niece went to hockey camp last month.  She took her pillowcase that I made her and then she snuck a quilt into her duffle bag.  She just needed something from home!  I laughed when I saw the photo.  My quilts are definitely loved and used.

Now, this bit about yo-yoing along.  Meet Yo-Yo.  A stair lift (this is the folded up position) .  Both my hubby and I are in need of this device.  We are both having difficulty using the stairs.  My hubby has Parkinson's and dementia and I have something that is related to Myositis (my legs, my hands and arms are affected).  More tests are needed to figure out my issue.  So, a stair lift was ordered from the U.K.  You know, we here in Canada are boycotting American made products and the decision to look at the U.K. instead was made.  Sad that we have to do this, but this is reality right now and in the future because once the Taco man is gone, there are many more crazy politicians ready to step in and take his place.  Not good for any country to only deal with the U.S.A.

So why the name Yo-Yo.  A friend and I were chatting on line and I said that I need a name for the device and it had to be quilt related.  She suggested Yo-Yo.  It is quilt related and like a yo-yo, it goes up and down.  Perfect!  LOL

We now have a keyless entry to our home.  Now family members can come by and just put in the code and enter our home.  Safer for both hubby and I and saves my energy going up and down the stairs to open the door for them.  That is where I'm at with my health.  I have to conserve my energy if things are to get done around the house.

An OT (Occupational Therapist) came to our home to give me advise for myself.  When we went down to my studio, she gasped when she saw what I was using to stand on to pin stuff to my design wall.  I have to change what I'm doing big time as I am unsteady standing.  More on that later as I have to get a special stand built and she is coming back next month to check it out.  She was happy to hear that I have been doing physio every week since January.  The physio is helping but my life will never be the same again.

This afternoon, my sister and I are going to a nursing home to look at respite care for my hubby so that I can have a break when needed.  This is where we are at with my life right now.  My hubby needs more help these days.  Guess what I will also be doing when I'm at the nursing home .....

Life is getting more difficult these days and my posting will become less and less.  At some point, my blog will close, but not just yet.  

So .... cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country and my country will always be CANADA!

June and July Challenge Update

June was a good month for me for the Chookshed 2025 Challenge.

Good progress on this project called "Simply Serene".  I scrapped the brown out and replaced with floral looking fabrics.  This will be perfect for a donation quilt now.  My goal for July will be to assemble all those blocks and add borders.

Now, for this UFO .... as you can see much progress has been made on "Joseph's Coat".  The 'before' on the left vs the 'after' on the right.  My goal for July will be to move this project along more.  Seems my mojo is back!

My sister and I have been spending a few nights at the cottage lately.  On one of our trips, this flock of geese came and spent the day on our lake.  This is so unusual, but we think it was because of the air quality from forest fires up north and they came south for fresher air.  The flock has since gone back north.

Canada Day is July 1 and we are celebrating our freedom and as the country of CANADA.  To Taco Man ..... well, you will just have to get over it and move on and create another crisis (as in 24/7 chaos mode) of your making.  

To all my fellow Canadians .... Happy Canada Day!

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country ..... and my country will always be CANADA!

Technology is a changing!

My computer is old, old, old ..... a new one has been purchased and I am going through growing pains.  Like on some of the keys, there are five symbols .... but how do I get to those different symbols.  I can not even find out how to do a simple question mark.  Guess I will be getting one of the young ones to give me a hand there.  Ha .... I just figured it out!  Yeah me!  This old gal can figure things out slowly but surely.  My brain will sure get a workout over the next few weeks.  At least I can do a post now with photos!

Not much sewing is happening here.  My mojo has kind of left me for now.  Summer is here and life has been busy lately.

I am struggling with working on my challenge for this month.  First time ever not enjoying doing the applique.  Oh dear, that is so not like me.  A number of petals are sewn in place so far, but many more to go.  I foresee this project being smaller than initially planned.  I'm ok with that.  Get it done and move on to something else.

In an attempt to use up a lot of my charms, I've decided to try out this pattern.  It is not working for me just yet.  Thinking cap needs to come on or it will be scrapped and the pieces used for something else.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!   My country will always be CANADA.  Funny thing, I've been making tacos lately and enjoying them with a smirk on my face.  I wonder why that is, eh?

May & June Goals

Well, well .... May was a good month for me for the Chookshed Stitchers 2025 Challange.  Got lots done!

First, this Xmas top is assembled.

The following photos show off the fabrics.  They look like Xmas wrapping paper to me!  There are a lot more fabrics than shown here, but you get the idea.  I've been collecting Xmas fabrics for a while now and it was time to start cutting up the fabrics.

Borders got sewn onto this top.

There are now 5 tops to go to the LAer.  I did get backing done for one top, but that is all.  Ran out of time and energy.

My Chevron Log Cabin is done.  More photos to follow later.  I've been toying with an idea to add something to this quilt and will have to experiment to see if my idea turns out or not.  

Now, for my June goal (singular, not plural) will be to move this project along a bit.  There will be lots of applique involved.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!  My country will always be CANADA!  Elbows up, Canada! 

A Quilt Finish and Eagles are back!

It's been a slow go, but so glad this old UFO is now a completed quilt and gifted to my BIL.

For some strange reason, there are few particulars about this quilt.  Like, I have no idea when this was first started and the pattern name.  I probably saw this on Pinterest and was able to figure out the block and drafted up the quilt pattern in EQ.  Usually, I'm much more organized than this with important details and give credit to the original designer.  Oh dear, I sure slipped on this one.

Block:  Blockbase pattern #2022 Light & Shadows and 4 patch

Block Size:  10" finished

Size:  96-1/2" x 97"

Batting:  Hobbs polyester

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Cottage season has started and my sister and I made a day trip to the cottage to bring out more supplies and to do a few chores before the onset of black flies (which are not in full force and biting).  We got them done and were sitting on our porch to have our lunch when we heard a screech.  "That's an eagle", I said.  We both grabbed our phones to take photos.  This is the first time we have seen two Canadian Bald Eagles together.  This is the third year we have seen an eagle in our area and I'm guessing they are here to stay.

So beautiful and majestic.  Canadian Bald Eagles, indeed!  

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!  My country will always be CANADA!  

Antique Circles

That is what I'm calling my quilt that I made for Grace for the Humble 2025 Doll Quilt Swap.  

It started with pieces of scraps and charms from my stash.  Only Civil War Reproduction fabrics could be used as well as using a traditional block pattern.  I decided to do the Chinese Coin look but with a twist by adding circles instead of plain fabric between the rows of strips.  You know, it just had to be different because that is me!

Once the strips and circle blocks were made, it was time to decide on border fabric.  I've had this poison green in my stash for a few years now and wish I had bought more of it.  It is just gorgeous.

Border strips cut and auditioned.  Yes, they will work just fine!

Hand quilting got started in fits and stops with the help of Ridley.  I used a blue variegated blue crochet cotton and it worked in nicely.

Finally, it is done and has been received by Grace.  Here is the story behind my getting Grace's name .... she made me a mini quilt in another swap many years ago and I wanted to send her one of my quilts.  I've been following Grace from way back when and when she posted that she had joined Lori from Humble Quilts for this year's swap, I contacted Lori and asked if Grace's name could be given to me and why.  Lori said "so sweet" and yes I could have Grace's name to send a quilt to.  Grace is also one of the ladies that I zoom with through Chookyblue and it is so nice to talk to her from time to time if we happen to join in at the same time.  

 

This is the quilt that I received from Nann for the Humble Quilts Doll Swap.  Nann and Grace are friends and I did mention to Nann my little secret.

So, there you have it, it is a small world and there are no borders (Canada and U.S.A.) when it comes to friendship!

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country and my country will always be CANADA!  Elbows up, Canada!

Tulip Time

Not up here where I live, but tulips in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  My sister, her youngest daughter and I took a quick trip down (about 5 hour drive south) to see the tulips and the magnolia trees in bloom.  

We went to a tulip farm and what a pleasant time we had there.  We were each allowed to take 10 tulips from any row we wanted to and we did.  It was a beautiful day and the temps were not too hot for us to stroll along the rows of tulips.  We went at the right time as most of the tulips were in mid bloom.  Another week and the petals would be dropping.  Same with the magnolia trees as some were already dropping in places.

I took a selfie of myself among the rows of tulips.  I used to take selfie's of myself when I was in my 20's, but had to wait until the film was developed to see how they turned out.  Nowadays, it is instant.  How times and technology have changed how we live today.

From our hotel room, we had views of the falls.  This one is the American falls.

There was often mist shrouding the Canadian falls.

We had great meals throughout our stay.  We did a bit of shopping and donated money to the casino and then it was time to go home.

Back home, this little guy was happy to see me.  He snuggled in and slept like a baby in my arms.  

Fifteen minutes here and there on this project has progressed to a few rows sewn together.  This project has all Xmas fabrics and it looks like Xmas wrapping paper.  Love it.

Two quilts came back from the LAer and this quilt in being trimmed and soon binding will go on.  It will be gifted later this month.

I will be taking half an hour of time to clean in my studio before heading to bed each night.  So far, it has been working and I can see some progress in the scrap piles.  Scraps are getting sorted, cut down and ready to be sewn into blocks.  Happy about that.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!  My country will always be CANADA .... glorious and free and we stand on guard for thee!

April and May Goals

April for Chookshed Stitchers 2025 Challenge was a good month for me, except it just doesn't feel like it.

First off, this mini wall hanging/table mat got finished and is being mailed tomorrow.  Can't show any more right now, but soon there will be a post about this hanging/table mat.

For my Chevron Log Cabin, only 5 blocks got made.  This will be my goal for May to finish a few more and finally be done with this quilt.

Then, a darn squirrel came around and taunted me again and I succumbed and started pulling out Xmas fabrics and before I knew it, this is what happened.  This will be part of my May goal to finish sewing it together.

Borders need to be added to this top.

Binding will be sewn onto this quilt when it comes back from the LAer next week.  It will be gifted later this month.

Cottage season is starting up.  We have already made our first trip of the season out to check conditions and to bring out some stuff we need.   Once we start going out, not much quilting gets done.  If I still have energy and time, then backings will be made for all these three tops.  I would like to get them to the LAer soon to be able to work on the bindings this summer at the cottage.  

Squirrels are out in abundance right now looking for nuts.  Oh right, I fall right into that category!  LOL  We'll see if a new project gets started or if I stick with the goals shown above.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country and CANADA will always be my country!

So Thankful!

With the political craziness that is going on between Canada and the U.S.A., I am so thankful that I can sink into my quilting to help keep me sane and my hands occupied. 

I'm so thankful that there is a healthy stash and lots of bins of scraps to pawn through in my studio.  With the cost of cotton fabric and all the accessories, there is no way with the added cost of tariffs that I could afford to buy new stuff.  Good thing I stocked up years ago.

So, with that in mind, back to the scraps I went and after a day, blocks started appearing.  Another Rail Fence quilt was started.

After all the blocks were made, I decided that the bright yellow blocks just had to go.

So, more scraps were pulled, the yellow blocks taken out and viola .... a top that just needs borders.  

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country .... and my country will always be CANADA!

A Gift!

What a lovely surprise that came in the mail yesterday!  This is my quilt from Humble Quilts doll swap quilt that I joined in this year.  My quilt came from Nann at With Strings Attached and I LOVE it!  I've been reading Nann's blog for many years and I'm delighted that my quilt came from her.

Look how well my quilt matches my outfit!  LOL   Guess she knew I'm a blue person.

Nann included way, way too many goodies for me to enjoy!

I'm still working on the quilt that is going to ..... and hope to have it finished soon.  I need to look for some goodies to include in the parcel.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country and mine will always be CANADA!

March goals and April Challenge

Well ..... March flew by didn't it!  We are almost at the end of the month and what do I have to show for it?  There have been doctor appointments, physio, snow shovelling, a bit of babysitting and some days of just sitting and watching t.v. or reading a book.

This top for one is done!  All from scraps except for the borders.  Yeah for me as I will never have to touch those scraps again. Part of my goal for April is to make a few more blocks from scraps.  This brings a total of 5 tops to go to my lovely LAer.  Three more backings need to be made and some frankenpieced batting need to be done.  

Row 10 is finally done on my Chevron Log Cabin quilt-as-you-go quilt.  I will be working on Row 11 for my April challenge.

A bit of secret stitching has been done.  I joined the Humble Quilts doll swap again this year.  It has been a couple of years since I last participated and it is time again this year.  Nothing more on this until reveal time.  This little mini has to be my goal to finish in April as deadline for mailing is May 3.  Must, must get this done on time.

We have been enjoying a spat of nice weather lately (with a few snow storms added in to remind us we are still in March).  Starting this afternoon around 3 p.m., we are due for a major snowstorm.  Whoever is responsible for this forecast has a sense of humour.  Where I live (in North Bay), we are in the red sector (at the top) and that means 3-4 bags of chips and 10-15 drinks over the course of the next few days.  Yesterday, I went grocery shopping and ran other errands.  My pantry is stocked up and my snowblower is ready!  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life, cherish your country (and my country will always be CANADA)!

A squirrel came by ....

Oh dear, I should have been working on other projects, but a squirrel popped by my window, distracted me and I was off in a different direction.  LOL

I have bins and bags of scraps and I just started pulling pieces and before long a pile was formed and blocks were being made.  There were a lot of 1-1/2" strips and 2-1/2" neutrals.  Rail fence is one of my favourite blocks to do and that is what were made.

Before too long, all the blocks were made.  Just need to start sewing them into rows and into sections.  Border fabric has been pulled.  I'm on a roll!  Did it make any difference to the amount of scraps?  Nope, but the way I look at this is that these pieces will never be touched again.  Win-win!

My studio has had a bit of clean-up and two bins were emptied.  How lovely to see!  I have a bin of French General yardage that will be given to a friend who is working with that fabric line.  Another bin will soon be emptied.  Oh my, win-win!

Batting is getting used up and soon I will have an empty bin and bag.  Win!

Scraps are getting used up.  More strips will be pulled out and Rail Fence blocks will be made as Leader/Ender method while I start working on projects that I should be working on.  Win!

Last week, two quilts were mailed out to two ladies in Saskatchewan (province of Canada) for Quilts for Survivors.

I have a couple more tops that will get quilted and then mailed out to a person that is in need of comfort.  It is nice to go to my stack of quilts and pull out one or two and donate them.  I really do need to downsize my number of quilts in my home.  Any that are not being used for display will go.  Family will be happy as there will be less quilts to deal with later ....

Cherish your day, cherish your life, cherish your country (and mine will always be Canada)!