Goose down, Fleece and Wool!

Hello friends.  I can’t help but talk about the weather.  Let’s be more exact and comment on consecutive days, (let’s not be nice here) consecutive weeks, with temperatures hovering at -25C and colder.  Now I know that for most of us we pride ourselves on our Canadian cold weather tolerance, but really, -30c with wind chills of -40C.

I AM DONE!  Anywhere warm sounds really nice!   Oh ya, that's next month.  :) 

On the bright side, it’s a perfect time to do some serious quilting. I have abundant projects to finish and a few percolating in the old noggin.  I had a lovely visit with my friend Cindy, of Cindy Bee’s Quilt Shoppe in Espanola the other day.  We played with some fabric combination for a new quilt idea I have and she sure is able to push me out of my comfort box.  It has been brought to my attention that the last few quilts I have designed are red!  Hmmm, it’s funny how that happens and without noticing until you lay them out side by side – Yup, they are all pretty much Red!  So, no red for this next one. More shocking, I was convinced to throw in a Kaffe Fasset. Wait, I think the cold is effecting my judgement.  This new project however, will have to sit on the shelf of a while as I clear up some things off my to-do list.  There is nothing like a stack of new fabric to light a  fire under your butt and get a move on. 

As January settles in, I took some time to get organized and updated my calendar. Well, 2018 will definitely be a year that goes “whoosh”, speeding by like a high-speed train.  As I started filling in my calendar with my booked events there are things in every month up to next November. Trips, workshops and Kids Weddings. This is not a bad thing, but I have to wonder, am I noticing and feeling this way because I now have a planner and keep track of everything or, has it always been like this. Hmmm.  This all brought me to my Word for 2018.

Momentum -  drive, energy, focus strength.  All synonyms, but captivate a quality I think I will have to draw on for the year.  I thought about Endurance but I think that relates more to the effects of the weather.  Hahaha. 

The Northern Ontario Quilting Symposium is open for registration.  This year I am so excited to be able to bring Tracy Russell here to the North.  Tracy teaches her longarm sketching class all over Canada and the US.  It is going to be a great weekend.  New this year is an additional workshop hosted by Me!  I will be running an open Finishing School for all those PHD’s we have stored and don’t know how to get back to them.  Let’s just say a bit of Spring Cleaning!   Click here to learn more about workshops being offered and how to register. 

Book early as every year it gets filled up faster and faster.

Well it’s about time to stoke the stove, until next time, thanks for dropping by.  Stay safe, stay warm and wear wooly socks!

Happy Holidays! While the merry bells keep ringing...

Hello Friends.  Whether we are ready for it or not, Christmas is upon us and 2018 is just a week away.  Erin (oldest daughter) rolled in today and had supper in the oven and the wood stove stoked when I got home from Hubby’s office. Now that’s a Christmas present for sure. I have been helping out this past week at the office so there hasn’t been much quilting happening. I did get Millie the longarm back together again after her spa visit.  I am itching to give it a go and see how everything is running. I am hoping for some quilting time over the next few weeks.

As always, my head is full of ideas and things that I would like to get made.

I was able to throw together a table runner and I think it may be my test quilt on the longarm.  Sometimes I just have to make a little thing to get that feeling of accomplishment.  How about you?

With 2018 fast approaching, I took some time to surf the web and see what is new.  Well, the colour of the year for 2018 is Ultra-violet.  I know a few quilters how are going to be quite happy to have an excuse to throw purple into their quilt projects this year. 

Pantone announced “Ultra-Violet” as the official 2018 Color of the Year, a bright, highlighter hue. 

 Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, told the Times that the bright purple shade  “communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said by way of explanation. It is found in the cosmos (think of all those swirling purple nebulae!), the wellness movement (amethyst crystals!) and was a favorite color of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who, Ms. Eiseman said, used to wear a purple cape when he was trying to be creative. Ditto Wagner, who liked to surround himself with purple when he was composing.   

By the sounds of it, I should give purple some serious concideration. However, I have a mental image of quilters in their sewing rooms quilting with purple capes on.  LOL

Each new year I pick a word in January to focus on in my daily tasks.  2017’s word was “Organize”.  I have tried throughout the year to be more organized and I think it has been a success. Except that I have not had time to work on the staff quilt, as it is still in pieces, as it was the night of the office party. Hmmm!!

Do you have a word of the year?

I will have to spend some time over the holidays to search for my 2018 word of the year.  Please let us know if you would like to try this with me, or perhaps if you have a word for me!

 As we bid adieu to 2017 I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy holiday season.  May your homes be filled with love and laughter.

Thank you for your support and readership. Until next time, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"All the leaves are down and the sky is grey!"

I did find a fabric shop in London.  Oh happy times!

Hello Friends.  Since we last visited I have been caught in what feels like a tornado of activity.  So much has happened.  So lets begin!   Hubby and I visited our youngest in the UK.  Its always nice to be able to talk face to face and get a few million hugs in.  Our visits have become extra special now that we have a "son-in-law" to be in the picture.  Yes, they are engaged.  I got to go wedding dress shopping with her, discuss some wedding details and visit the venue where the event will take place.  We are all so happy and excited.  I get teary just talking about it.  Oh Mom!  

Just before we left for London, our oldest called.  We hadn't heard from her in a week or so, and just thought that they were busy.  Well, that was and understatement.  You see she called and told us they were in Newfoundland and had gotten married.  Hubby and I were ever so happy andnot to surprised as they have been together for quiet a few years. They are not big on pomp and circumstance. So happy mommy tears once again. Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.

My mommy heart is filled with joy!

When we were back home in the middle of October, if was full steam ahead.  The fall chores had fallen behind and winter was coming.  Its surprising how, at this time of year, there is so much to do and so little time to get it all done.  We still had to close up camp and all.   I had some workshops to prep for, so I sequestered myself in the studio.  

The fall workshop "Catch a Falling Star" was a great success.  There were moments of laughter followed by occasional moment of "de-sewing."  New quilters from away and lost of returnees.  Their stars all looked beautiful and I can not wait to see the finished projects.  

A few days later I found myself in Hamilton Ontario.  I was presenting my trunk show to the Hamilton Quilters Guild during one of their evening meeting.   What a great group of quilters.  i even ran into an long time acquaintance.  Thank you so much for making me feel so at home.  A big Hello to Shirley, as it was nice to see a familiar face.  

Its just little things now as everyone gets ready for the holiday season.  I am looking forward to some down time.  I will not be long arming before Christmas.  You see, Millie, my big machine is packed in her box and heading to Iowa for a good tuneup and such.  I am so looking forward to some "me time" stitching.  The question is, "where do I start?"

Thanks for dropping by, Until next time, stay safe, keep warm and stitch something.