Remember

 There are a few things I am passionate about.  Among them Disney, quilting, crafting, family, Canada, I can go on.... One of them is remembering why we have the freedoms we do.  I am thankful that I can do anything I want and will not be jailed for my opinions.  One reason for this is the sacrifices that were made before I was born.  

I have uncles, aunts and cousins who have and are still serving in our armed forces.  I've thanked them and I thank you too, if you also protect our rights and freedoms around the world.

So I've started to make a wall hanging to show a small bit of my appreciation.  

I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it.  This is a pattern from Peppermint Purple.  A portion of the proceeds to this pattern are donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.  Saturday is Canada's Remembrance Day.  Please take a moment at 11am to remember.  

I was introduced to her in 2020 during covid. I posted about her at the end of 2020 when I finished her stitch along. I recently finished another of her patterns which I will also be turning into a wall hanging. As you can see, I'm auditioning some fabric and embellishments for that. Which fabric would you use?

Have a great week.  

And THANK YOU!

You've Got A Friend In Me

 Last year I became part of a chat group that meets weekly on Zoom for an hour to discuss our quilting and other topics that interests us... books, films, kids, just a social hour.  I have benefited from these friendships very much and cannot say how much I appreciate these ladies.  When I first joined, the moderator was creating a block of the month for people to join.  I helped test these patterns and I assembled as instructed, but I wasn't happy with it.  

I wanted to make a wall hanging instead of a lap quilt.  Again precise piecing, but I persevered.  So I took it apart and reassembled with the blocks I liked best.  The rest were used on the back.  I love the end result!  When I look at it, it reminds me of the these ladies.  

I used Meerkat Shweshwe fabric from South Africa in three colours and only a very few solids where necessary.  Each block is representative of connecting through Zoom and in spite of the restrictions of Covid 19.  I also used my new embroidery skills I have been learning from another friend.  I'll have to show you my first embroidery project soon....

I had a chance to meet these ladies in Halifax this past June at Quilt Canada.  I hope to be able to meet them in person again soon!  Meanwhile we have our regular social hour....

Cindy

Losing My Muchness

 Hello!

You probably thought you lost me...or you never noticed... that's ok.

I recently read an article on Owlcation about 10 life lessons from Alice in Wonderland.  It struck a chord with me, so this falls under #2: Life Can Be Much More Muchier.

I've mentioned before that I am a HUGE Alive in Wonderland fan. (also a Tinkerbell fan, Disney fan, I can go on...) I recently started a block of the month with a designer and quilter, Matt from Art East Quilt Company titled the Mad Quilt Party.  

I am NOT a fan of precise piecing little pieced of fabric, but decided to try again...after all, this IS Alice!  This time, I decided I will do my best, but I will not fret if it is not 'perfect'.  After all, who is perfect?  I want to have FUN in this hobby.  Not stress myself out.  This is the first two chapters (out of 12) Alice, and the White Rabbit.

First I had to get rid of a couple other issues that were stressing me out.   That done and working on taking care of me, I have started again. Another one of my favourites, Anne of Green Gables, mentioned: "Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it.. yet"  Hopefully I can continue regularly.  after all, I have some catching up to do is showing you what I've been up to.  Enjoy!

Cindy

Time Flies!

 It's June! Almost July!

I have just come back from Quilt Canada in Vancouver.  

This is a show that highlights the best juried quilts across Canada.  If you have a quilt you'd like to submit, you fill in the application at the beginning of the year.  If the Jury (experts in quilting) deems it the best of the best, you get to submit it and have it professionally judged and shown at this yearly show.  I have not had a quilt accepted yet, but hope to one day.  

This was the Best in Show quilt

The detail in her work is AMAZING!  Quilted and thread painted, including beading, then cut out around the beading.  WOW! 

The show changes location each year and is held in the month of June.  This year was in Vancouver at the Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver.  Next year is in Halifax, Nova Scotia!  

Here is my remade quilted jean jacket I finished in time to wear to this show.  I got to meet Dawn Piasta in person after chatting with her online for a year....

I had so much fun!  Do come to a Quilt Canada if you are ever able!  SO worth it!

Hugs!

Creative time

 Hi!

This year, my health took a priority.  
My weight has been steadily climbing since we got married in 1994.
Despite many attempts, nothing really worked.
So after a summer of a new fat flushing medication, calorie control and exercise, I enrolled in a program with the Bariatric clinic of Sudbury.  
3 months of only Optifast shakes 4 times a day.
My poor man!  Grumpy is not the only word, but the only one I can use here!
Since February 2021 I have lost 75 pounds. and I hope to keep it off.

The point of this is I spent a LOT of time in my craft room, distracting myself.
So for the next bit I'll show you what I've made...

First up is this cute mermaid wall hanging.

I got the pattern from a sew along I joined. 
It is called Ocean Child by Laura Strickland.

I have been swapping 2.5" strips with the ladies of my guild for the last two years and decided I need to start using some of them.
The background is some of the blue ones I received.

Have a great and safe New Year's Eve!

Hugs!
Cindy

It's Christmas time!

 Hello!

I love Christmas. 
So nice to hear from family and friends, lots of good cheer and secret making, but also SOOO chaotic!
In the past few years though it's been hard to get into the jolly time of year.
So if you too are having a hard time, hang in there!  
There will be a better day!
That's all we can do.  Just keep trying.

I made my mom's Christmas cards in time for her October birthday again this year.  
She like cutesy and Suzy's Zoo by Susy Spafford. 
So I took some wrapping paper I bought last year and fashioned some cards for her and my seester!  (that's not a typo, just the way we call each other)

Then a friend asked me for some cards for her business, so I made her some fun ones.

And finally I finished mine in early December. 
I used the same background paper on all of them and the same greeting inside, but used up all the stray embellishments I had collected over the years.

We sent them out a little later that I prefer, but there you go. 

Just aim for done and not perfection! 
I learned that this year! 
How about you?  What did you learn this year?

Happy Christmas everyone and keep safe!

Hugs!
Cindy

Fabric postcards

Hi!

 I participated in a fabric postcard swap this year.
It took me a while to find the Pellon Peltex 9292F Stabilizer, but once I got into the groove, it was fun!

My first ones are quite plain, but I got to play with the font feature on my sewing machine and spent a happy afternoon playing and adding decorative stitches with gold thread.

That's a paper pieced ornament next to it.  I sent it to my swap partner too.

The second one gets given to someone special.

Next year I understand we may do it again, so I'm gathering ideas to make more elaborate ones!

Hugs!

Cindy