Rail Fence

Going through my scrap bins, I started pulling out strips to make this quilt.  A great way to use up those scraps!  As I sew a piece of scrap ..... I'm thinking that I will never use that piece again.  This is my way of dealing with scraps because there are bins and bags still left to deal with.  I'm thinking it might be time to do a purge and pass on some of my scraps to someone else to enjoy.

Quilt Details:

Source:  my own design as this is my go-to block for using up strips of scraps.

Block size:  6" finished (2" + 2" + 2")

Quilt started:  April 2025

Top finished:  May 2025

Quilt finished:  September 2025

Quilt size:  60" x 82"

Batting:  Polyester

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham using The Milky Way by Christy Dillon

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

Elbows Up Canada, eh!

Joseph’s Coat

Well …. It took some time, but I was able to finally put borders on and this project that was started many years ago is now a top.

Now, for something new in my studio ….. a railing.  When the Occupational Therapist came to my home to give me tips for coping with my condition, she gasped when she saw what I was doing to pin stuff onto my design wall.  I have a bench and was using a step ladder to lean onto to help with my unsteadiness when standing on the bench.  She said the step ladder just would not give me the support that I needed.

She gave me some ideas to start with and from there, I hired a carpenter and between the two of us, we came up with this concept and viola, I’m now able to safely work with my design wall once again.

Now, I can easily rest my arms onto the side supports and not worry able falling sideways or backwards.  The project on the design wall has been there for a few months now as I just didn’t feel safe to work on it.

The railing can be moved along the bench enabling me to work on whatever section I need to.  Now I’m happy!  I still get to keep the storage area underneath the bench.

It is now time for politics and a rant from me.  It really irks me when I read about Senator Joseph E. Martin from Maine, who sent a letter along with a proposal for “A Vision For Welcoming Western Provinces Into The United States” to MLAs in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.    Google the proposal and read about it.  

So, Senator Martin …. take your proposal and stuff it where the sun don’t shine!

What a bunch of BS that is coming from imbeciles in the USA.  Elbows up, Canada.  Pete Hoekstra hates it when we do that!  He is up here spewing more BS and lies.  He should be sent home and banned from Canada.  Why in the world would we want to become part of the USA?  Why.

Just a little bit of info here about health care.  It is perfect?  Heck, no.   Will any of us go bankrupt having major surgery or cancer treatment?  NO!  How many people declared bankruptcy in the USA last year?  Over 500,000.  In Canada …. ZERO.  Think about that.

Just to give you an idea about my recent care and appointments.  I have had an MRI and next week will be having a cat scan.  I’ve met with a neurologist for initial diagnosis and then had a nerve and muscle electrode testing done.  Both were out of town.  Then, I was referred to a team of neurologists in Toronto where I had further nerve and muscle testing done.  My costs to me for the medical care …. ZERO.  Since I had to travel out of town due to no specialist in my city, I have received gas as well as hotel accommodation grants from the Ontario government.  I have received just over $1,000 from these grants.  I have a health card that I present for each appointment.  No hassels except to print out the grant form for each appointment and have the specialist sign the forms.  

Sorry if anyone is offended by what I say next …. but your morals just don’t meet our standards here in Canada.  There are millions of US citizens that think like us …. but there are many more millions that have lost their thinking and their way and are eager to support and praise deranged people in authority.  Like rats following the pied piper.

ELBOWS UP, CANADA!

To my fellow Canadians …. Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Xmas Wrapping Paper

Finally got this quilt finished as it was being used for a demo at my night guild September meeting.  

Ridley (who got out of his harness) sauntered by to check out the quilt.

Then he was off to check out the hill outback.  Hubby and I will not even try to catch him now as he is just too fast and we can't afford to hurt ourselves in the process.  He came home about an hour later.

Quilt Details:

Source:  A photo was shown on Pinterest and I changed the format a bit and came up with this version.  No idea who the original owner is of this pattern.

Block Size:  3" x 6" finished.  Sashings are 1" finished.

Quilt Size:  51-1/4" x 77" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  52-3/4" x 79-1/4")

All kinds of Xmas fabrics were used and the quilt looks like a bunch of samples of Xmas wrapping paper.  I love it!  I can see using this pattern for I Spy, autumn fabrics, Kaffe fabric, Tula Pink fabrics, plaids and stripes and the list goes on.  A great pattern for using up larger pieces of fabric from my stash.  This quilt was easy to assemble and my goal was just get it done to be used by someone.

Machine quilted by:  Kathie Wareham using "Let it Snow" quilting design.

Batting:  80/20 Hobbs

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

BTW .... I'm seeing more and more Canadian products on our grocery shelves lately.  What a nice change.  Again, Elbows Up, Canada!  Found out that the U.S Ambassador to Canada isn't happy about us saying "Elbows Up".   He is very disappointed.  Oh well, too bad, so sad .... put your big boy briefs on and deal with it because it ain't going away.  Oh, and in case y'all haven't figured it out yet, the only country in the world that is paying for the tariffs on imported goods imposed by the Orange Clown is ..... the U.S.A.  Full stop.  Only the U.S.A.  Let that sink in.  Have a good day.

August and September Goals

Summer has been very busy here buy so enjoyable.  The heat lingered far longer than appreciated .... at least we had heat.   We are having a false fall right now.  Temps at night got a tad cool last week and at our cottage, we were under frost warning.  It didn't happen, but had to put an extra blanket on me in the early hours of the morning.

Cottage season is slowing down and next month we will be closing it for the season.  How time flies when we are having such fun.

A lot more sewing got done this month.

This is how my sides are being finished off. Seams will show here but only slightly.  There are no seams anywhere on the top, except on the edges.

When a circle gets joined to the rest of the top, there are a lot of pins holding the circle to the background fabric and then the hand sewing commences.  To make sure the circles don't get turned around (has already happened), little tags are now pinned onto the completed section and to the circle.  It is so much easier then to place the circle in the right spot and pin, pin, pin away.

This is where my Joseph's Coat top is currently at.  See the bright green square at the bottom.  Only that circle and a half circle beneath are all that remains to be appliqued and then the joining happens next.  Borders and then I can cross this project off my list.

Ridley always had a way of just plopping himself down onto my handwork when it was nearing his bed time.  So, no more work gets done when that happens.  You know, I would have finished this project sooner!  LOL

A quilt did get its' binding sewn on and that will be shown in my next post.

My September goal for Chookshed Stitchers 2025 Challenge will be to finish the Joseph's Coat UFO and to maybe get binding onto these two quilts.  Days and nights are cooling down and they will be warm on my legs and feet.

I've shown before how one niece really loves her quilts.  On any road trips for hockey or soccer tournaments, she brings a bit of home with her.  This is in a hotel room with her special pillow and her quilt that seems to be making the rounds lately whenever she goes anywhere.

That in a nutshell was my August.  

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

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!