My hospital crafting spot

Quilting, knitting and word puzzles were my activities while sitting with my Mom at the hospital. She slept 99% of the time that I was with her. It gave her great comfort to see me sitting there when she woke up and then would drift off to sleep again. She would ask what I was working on and always liked what I showed to her.

My chair was very comfortable and my quilting was contained in this recycled (you know me and my thriftiness for using recycled items) Swiffer case. The size was perfect for my needs and I could throw whatever I was working on in the box in an instant and not worry about dropping pins or a needle or scissors, etc. The lid snapped on easily and stayed in place.

Block after block of the Lover’s Knot was made. This is the first time that I did hand piecing and I have to confess that it was very relaxing to do.

This is what has been accomplished so far. In a previous post, Lynette Anderson had asked if there was a pattern. There probably is and May Britt could tell us more as she has one displayed in her post. I have seen this block many times in quilt magazines and when I saw it on May Britt’s blog, I just had to make it. My pattern came from EQ Block Base (#1532) and I’m using charm squares. If you want to do the same, you will need two of the same charm squares packs. I’m using a mix of Moda and Marcus Fabric charm packs. Sorry, but I don't know how many packs have been used so far. When I get my packs, I hand wash the charms and hang them to dry and then just throw them into a bin.

My intention was to make a wall hanging; but the more I look at the blocks on my design wall, the more I want to make it into a bed quilt. Yikes, I will need more charm packs! :o)

Have a great day!

Not just a box!

How fascinating this box is …… I’m like a kid in a toy store. Remove the lid and everything inside flops down flat …... remove the lid and everything inside flops down flat again …. and again …. and again. What fun it is to see this in action. Judith sent this to me as a swap for one of my tote bags. I just love the fabric choice and colours that she used to make this box.

I could not finish her tote bag because I had to suddenly leave to be with my terminally ill Mom. My parcel arrived while I was up north and it remained unopened for nearly five weeks. When my DH drove up for Mom’s funeral, he forgot to bring the parcel with him. Oh well …. but what a welcome parcel to open once I got home!

Now that I’m home, the tote bag will be first on my agenda to finish and mail out to Judith.

Thank you, Judith …… I love my needle box!

Have a great day!

My Mother

Arina Dorschner Beauregard - 1918-2008

Many thanks to all that left comments regarding my Mom and to those that offered their prayers and thoughts.

Mom celebrated her 90th birthday in hospital and was gone 5 days later. She just lost the will to live and she was so tired of being sick. We buried her on Monday this week. It is a sad time for us and we will miss her a lot.

Of all the photos we have, this one is my favourite. Mom was just 2 yrs. old when this photo was snapped. Love her outfit and the baby chicks.

I'll be staying in North Bay for a few more weeks to help my sister settle her affairs.

Once home, my first priority will be to give my DH a lot of loving and TLC. He has been so patient and understanding regarding my absence from home over the past few years. It was our desire to not have Mom in a nursing home and she needed help to get around especially the past few months of her life.

After that, there are a couple of quilting projects that need to be completed. First, there is a bag that needs to be made (it is currently half assembled) and sent to Judith. It is part of a swap between us. Judith sent me a parcel and it is waiting for me at home (will reveal that gift soon).

Then, it will be time to complete my quilt for the Four Seasons Spring Swap and then to arrange a giveaway to celebrate my 1st year of blogging. Feb. 22 was my anniversary date; but life got in the way and that had to be put aside until later.

So, until I return home, there will be no more posts until Apr. 7 thereabouts.

Take care and have fun quilting!

Ice Huts

On my last visit to North Bay, there is a lot of ice fishing going on. Almost overnight, as soon as there is sturdy ice on Lake Nipissing, ice huts start to pop up all around the lakeshore. This shot was taken at Callander Bay, a small village just south of the city.

Ice fishing is a risky sport. During that visit, a truck went through the ice and sank. The two women inside barely made it to safety. People either walk or drive (their vehicle or snowmobile) to their huts.

My nephew has a hut and this is a recent catch. There is a regulation on size of fish that can be kept and ones that have to be returned to the lake. This fish had another fish in its belly when it was caught.

Now you have seen a wee glimpse of life in the Great White North!

Have a great day!

P.S. For those that are curious, the truck was retrieved from the lake. There is a salvage outfit in town that hauls submerged vehicles out of the frozen lake.

P.S. DH's update note: our dear mom is terminally ill... there may be delays for the next post.

Storing stencils

All of my stencils are in this box. It is wide enough and long enough to store them. There is no order to them ….. they are just thrown together and I find that whenever I need a particular one, my memory is refreshed of what else is in the box.

Have a great day!

Table Runners

These were made for my Mom a few years ago and I’ve made a few more (different patterns) since, and which you will be seeing sometime this year.

Have a great day!

Pattern source: Quilter’s Cache for the block

Making Tracks

Here’s one from my archives. There is a story behind the title; but I don’t want to embarrass my nephew, so I’ll just let it pass on by and just let you enjoy the photo.

Have a great day!

Pattern Source: McCall’s Quilting magazine, October 2003