Sew I Quilt

There is a lot of "S..." in the air this morning...

2012-02-23T08:31:00.000-05:00

A lot of snow has dropped on our escarpment

these past 24 hours....and it is breathtaking.

I sit here on my window seat viewing this

blanket of white stuff... ( with my coffee in hand)

And I am sew content..... (I am actually thinking

of strapping on some snowshoes and going for a hike)

This wee tree, which is not that small is an umbrella

tree, grows wider and fuller in the summer

and never needs trimming it grows to look

like an umbrella. Great shade tree!

It's from the Maple family.

My Nanny had one on her property, I grew

up with one. The last house we occupied

had 2 of them we planted and this one

we planted last year. The tree is already

16 years old...They grow slowly but they

have deep roots. Like me this morning..

I really do not want to begin my day

but I have classes to attend....

Look at the YARN of snow on my clothesline...

seems odd that over 3 inches just clings to less than

1/4 inch of wire....nature.....

This lovely blanketed bush takes up almost 1/2 of our yard...

and our yard is fairly large...as you note, it is already

growing through our chain link, which is necessary

as beyond the bush, there is a stream, a very deep

long one. On many of occasions we see many coyotes and foxes

peering their noses through the fence....

With two felines who love to go out in the summer,

this fence is a bit of deterrent.

There are boundaries nature respect..

We like that...because we love our rag doll Sumatra

and our main coon T-cup.

They are sitting with me this morning...

"What's that?" They do not want to venture out...

Scardy cats lol.

I could SQUISH you....yep I could lol

2012-02-14T08:22:00.002-05:00

Yep I am feeling it? are you?

Have a delightful HEARTFELT day..

ohhh at that other blog

we have a couple plus giveaways...

Yep, the air is full of LOVE..

You can grab my graphic..let's share it

no doubt this will bring smiles..

Need a boost...? ( should come with a warning) lol

2012-02-08T09:44:00.002-05:00

You ask what keeps me going, ???

I will tell you...

it is not just 1 thing but many....

#1 I exercise 6 x a week, ( 1 hour each day)

#2 I drink plenty of water 1/2 my weight in water each day.

#3 I eat these! formula below...

#4 ohhhh and I have about 3 cups max of coffee a day..

not all at once...Ü

Sew for those who asked for my recipe...

here it is but I must warn you...they have quite a kick..

It's not like I laced them with anything but natural ingredients.

the combination of these few ingredients certainly gives

your body the fuel that is needed when you need to work

at a high performance level.

OK, they work well for both my DH and I, in fact

just yesterday he shared a couple with his colleagues

and they both called me speaking a thousand miles an hour...

They exaggerated of course lol

ARE YOU READY?

again simple ingredients...

2 versions of this recipe..

I like mine with raisins, my DH with chocolate chips...

CHEWIES or CHEWY!

* no bake

FORMULA

1 cup of raw large flake oatmeal..( not instant) I use Robin Hood

3/4 cup of peanut butter ( I like JIF) Gail sends me lots..

( can't get it in Canada anymore)

1/2 cup of honey, ( a good kind, I use Amber Cream

by Pheylonian, I have a gf Jo who gets it for me)

1 cup of chocolate chips or 1 cup of dark raisins

* the ones above are with raisins

1/2 cup of toasted coconut, ( I put it in a dry pan on med heat and just

brown it, takes 2 min)

HOW TO..

In a small pot, add peanut butter and honey and stir until well blended

and it thins out like a warmed honey... ( 3 minutes tops)

Now pour this sweet mixture onto oatmeal and coconut, raisins or chocolate chips..

Now form into balls....BE sure to run your hands under cold water

and shape balls..this way the mixture will not stick to your hands.

Keep repeating that...

NOW you have some Chewies of your own..

Refrigerate and take as needed...I would not eat these

near bedtime...they will keep you up for hours..

that is what happened to me the other day!~

Simply put, they are delicious, nutritious

and my secret formula...now shared with you.

Now I have to get back to my lessons...

READ all of your emails of yesterday...

and thank you for all of them...I don't have

any spare time today to answer, but know

I loved your notes...

I woke in a PANIC!

2012-02-07T02:21:00.001-05:00

I had such a good day...

I have found a rhythm, a pattern

to my days. I wake up smiling

because I wake up just before sunrise,

by the time I have poured my coffee,

my day has begun.

YOU is kind, smart and important
my motto!

The sun is just ready to greet me

as I get ready for my hour workout in the gym.

By the time I have washed and my oatmeal is ready

to be dished- and

-I wake up my windows ( 3 of them now)

I am ready to go to class.

Yeah-- back to my studies!

Got through many more lessons than

I had planned, and although it is intense

most days, today was a good day!

I even cuddled with my new "lap quilt"
that I started and finished at our Monthly RETREAT

with my terrific ladies- they certainly keep me motivated
and inspired....I look forward to this most needed
TREAT.

I always have something on my lap, this very soft cuddly PIN IT

throw with my applique coffee cup...see it ? lol

Is just perfect for our still FEB WINTER!

And yes here on the escarpment it is still WINTER, but

maybe someone should tell Mother Nature that since

our days are sew mild I have the windows open.

And yet I still want something on my lap..

hence my LAP QUILT!

SEW where does the panic fall in...?

WELL, I went to bed at 9:30 PM and woke up

at around midnight...

Don't know why, but I looked at the post for tomorrow

on my IPAD...oh oh ....*( always on my night table)

searched on THAT OTHER BLOG, and could not find Joan's post..

I knew it was there, since I added the title earlier...but I could not

see it...OK, did a search, nothing, went through the list-

thinking I had dated it wrong, maybe 2011...after

30 minutes searching ...I found it, in 2002

not 2012.....by then I was wide awake...

( still wide awake) lol

I even made some oatmeal chews...great

for my workout and when I need a quick energy

boost during the day...problem was/is, I ate 1/2 of one...

NOW it';s 2:30 am...I am still up...wide awake...

Now I am panicking more...I have a full day

tomorrow of lessons that need to be graded..

I think I will be sleeping in till 5:45 am lol

Wellllll now what?

I am going to pin a bit lol

and try to think sleep sleep sleep

zzzz

P.s I love you...PILLOWS

2012-02-02T13:22:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe I never made one pillow case

up till now...at least not the sausage style

that I have seen on "that other blog" lol

In between lessons, video, exercises,

work outs...I completed 3 pillows

sew far for some family members...

This one for my DH, now I am not sure he will enjoy

the style as much as I...click on image

and read some of the ads. one about a fiery red head

last one...may bring a smile...

This one for my oldest, as she loves Pinning as much as I...

and she just happens to love ruffles and red and white

-go figure....

And last one sew far....this tea cup for my

DIL who just loves tea and coffee as much as I...

she is my fav x shhhh

Now this weekend I am heading out to our

retreat and I plan on sewing a couple more

and a new cover for one of my goose down duvets...

I already selected my font for the applique...

PIN IT

will go on this one...

We haven't had the cold winter we were suspecting..

but I am getting ready for it...Gosh, this can't be the winter

that I have come to look forward to each season..

I see buds coming through in my garden..

My GRASS is GREEN!

I want this!

Images from Japan...

Back to my lessons!

p.s this arrived yesterday from a lady named SUE
with she saw this the note said it reminded her of ME.
SEW SUE whoever you are...( I have thousands of SUE's in
my database) thank you ALL.
Or let me know which one..
I LOVE HER!

Blog HOP UPDATE Begins April 16th...

2012-01-30T13:50:00.001-05:00

(this one is paper piecing, but you can do anything at all....)

Ok, I have a challenge, and I don't mean today..

but

Start date: April 16th

* I am taking a Digital Design crash course

very condensed version and the bell curve is a bit

high...sew I hope you don't mind, if I postpone this

till April instead of February...?)

I want your opinion, which I value

in a very uplifting manner..

SEE this SCREEN which you can find here...

YOU will need one of these...

( You can order directly from therm)

Checker Distributors has it as well for commercial accounts

http://www.checkerdist.com/products/search?keywords=87747&relatedto=

Choose from a approx

12 x 14 ( mini quilt)

6 x 12 stand...

http://www.ackfeldwire.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1000117

Let's Percolate on this...

TABLE QUILTS

( because I can't think of a better name)

APRIL BLOG HOP?

like we did with the GHASTLIES but this one

will be:

What can YOU create using

this FRAME for your very own

Table Quilt.?

BlOG hop will be called....

ready for this...

"I HEART THIS..."

Truth of the matter, being that it is will be now APRIL.

YOU can make

anything your HEART desires that will

fit onto this 12x 14 screen.. or a 6 x 12.

What say YOU?

Sign up here ....

And of course this is but one of many I will create...

I just sew happen to think a coffee POT would

help you percolate on this idea further..

( ps. Look Annie...I got some stamps) lol

What say YOU?

I am IN....lol

Sign up here.....cut off date

March 15th

I am a rule breaker so let's have just guidelines...Ü

no tuts just photos and a bit of text...

Find a frame wherever you can as long as it is 12 x 14 size...

or 6 x 12

And any theme, any color, as long as You HEART it....

paper piecing, applique, blocks..anything...let

your creativity frame Your Passion!

oh...and you can make more than one...I plan on making a few lol

but that's just me..

Simply put, let's let creative...it's time....

attention MARNIE IN MUSKOKA..

you a no reply blogger...I need an email from you..

Day 26th...Cherry , it's all Cherry's fault...and I am blaming Gail too!

2012-01-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

This is where it began...

Cherry was a guest at "that other blog" the other day..

she was showing us how to applique using a pressing sheet

and she had this "fancy tulle", as she called it..

I never gave it a second thought...but my dear friend GAIL

and I were talking about the pressing sheet..( during my coffee break)

and that of course had me thinking of Cherry's tulle...

and I thought "I need a pressing sheet and a fancy tulle..".

And Gail shouted out " me too"

SEW I made one...

ohhhh I made a couple...

Using these gum containers..I have a few in diff't colors

Gail wanted PINK, and I just happened to have some

pink Tulle...can you believe that?

I will be making mine in WHITE in a Yellow container...

SEW there you have it....took me a few minutes

to whip this up...now we will have new pom-pom

scrubbers....( I think I best send one to Cherry)

after all she was my muse for this...

Ok, must get back to my school- work..

One of the nice things about studying at home..

I can FOCUS....lol

Day 24 in the life of a student and a wonky maker ....

2012-01-24T11:28:00.001-05:00

There are some things I am good at,

there are some things I even great at...

WONKY houses welllllllll not sew..

And that is okay...

"cause....it matters not how good

you are, but how well you played..

I played well, I tried my best

and my wonky houses

are complete.

Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

is hosting a wonky house swap

and very well I must add...

And although I was pushed beyond

my comfort zone, I think I finally got it...lol

If you have seen things I have created

I am usually a 3 color girl, very clean,

straight and meticulous to a point

-well you know....but that is me..
Ü

SEW tackling wonky and multiple colors

was such a stretch ...

I even had to call for help..

YES, can you believe it..???

With all the fabric that came and went

out these past few months, I did not have

anything that was that colorful...

in wonky style anyway....

Here is my progression....and this was my first
attempt...this one went into my scrap pile...

nothing wonky about this.......

Well it is hard to tell what it was...I was sew happy

with my sketch.....

not this one......lol

this one.....

Then Jane said " do you " or something like
that...and I thought I love coffee, sew let's do coffee
cup stacks....
SEW I poured myself into that.....lol

SEW there you have it...Day 24, weekends I cut
and stitch and in the mail these will go tomorrow
and now I can get back to my homework..

I can take it a bit easy today, my tutor
was not expecting me to go sew quickly...lol

Wonky blocks, and the personal tags....that's those

orange and white pieces on the blocks..

Thanks Wonky ladies and JANE, this was

something NEW for me...now I can say I am a bit

wonky lol Not a lot, just a bit....

and not one more word!

Day 20 and I am seeing RED.

2012-01-20T09:12:00.004-05:00

Yes, all of out french knots...and "NO" I did not do this.

but I will...trust me I will.

It is the end of the week and here is my story

in PHOTOS .. Compliments

of some fine and downright inspiring peeps...

My collection of favorite RED things....

If there was one SIGN that spells me..

this is it.....

Ok, that is what my husband tells me anyway.!

Pin It

I just love this a beautiful Quilted COOKIE

resting on my favorite brew, waiting for you to join me...

I have 10 minutes..how about it? lol

I have poured us a couple pots of coffee,

sew you can join me at break time...

And if I have a moment I may even pick up the phone

and tell you " I MISS YOU"

Sew please do not forget me....

I will be thinking of many of you this weekend

as I work on my ALTOIDS project...

Yes this weekend...I will be seeing lot's of

RED!, just saying xx

Sew have to run.... I had a date or rather a meeting with

my tutor...and I have a day of lessons

ahead of me, I am already 3 minutes

early for me being late..

UH? lol

( don't you just love these lips...I am trying to convince

my DH to make this for our bedroom...)

Day 17...My official day to begin Digital design...

2012-01-17T15:44:00.002-05:00

I feel like a child back in school whereby

once a task was completed you got a gold star....

WELLLLLL, my official date was supposed to be today,

but seeing I was already working on my syllabus, my tutor

started me off with my lessons...

SEW here I have already completed 3 courses,

and now on my 4th, on my official start date....

Yeah, I hear you....but listen I compete only with myself

and my alter ego is fierce..just saying lol

They give you this certificate of completion for

every course you take...I have over 352 more to go....

I don't think I will be printing them all off..lol

just saying....

Anyway, the funniest thing I have learned this far

is CAMERA RAW...now they don't call it that

as you read this...they call is CAM- MER - RAW....

Well anyway, it's like this secret hidden application

in Photoshop that has you cleaning up photos...

It is really terrific, problem is or was....I was

fixing all these photos and saving them...but

they forgot to tell me where I hid them.....lol

Ahhh you are not really interested I am sure..

But let me tell you, I am not such a NICE student

today....After 2 hours of reviewing my videos,

and searching everywhere...I found them..

it is a SECRET, where they are, but somehow

I found them....

I stamped my foot, spouted off a few

un-ladylike remarks, and I think I am ready

to play nice again....

OHHHHHH have to tell you...

A lot of ALTOIDS tins have arrived...

THANK YOU SEW MUCH....

I am just waiting for my special notions to arrive

this week, and this weekend I will be starting

on a wee project for you all...

I KNOW you will love it...just know it...

And yes...can't for the life of me, remember...lol

Have a couple more lessons to complete

before this day is over, my official 1st day..

whew....

Oh and I am reading everything...may not get to respond to all of them

but knowing you are there silently cheering me on...well lol

almost as good as my coffee..almost

DAY 13 and a Friday to boot....

2012-01-13T00:18:00.001-05:00

Look my ~~hydrangeas~~ and yes they are HYACINTH

I wrote this late last night...LOL ( thanks for the notes lol)

have blossomed and the aroma that permeates

our home is really breathtaking.....

I had no idea they would be in pink and white

and they would blend sew well in their surroundings...

But they are and they do, and I was glad I had

a few moments today to capture some shots...

My studies has me at 62 hours of completed

assignments. And that is really the first 10 days.

My official start date was January 17th,

-when my tutor saw how prepared I was

he said " why delay?"....I agreed...

What was I thinking ?lol

Truth of the matter, I love to learn,

always have, possibly my future

will mirror my present. No shock there..

Sew this weekend, I will rest ( from homework tuts)

and sew up some wonky houses for a swap I am in...

Jane's Fabrics is hosting ....

and set out to design a few projects for an

up and coming ??? team I was asked

to participate in ....mmmm can't say much

more, but soon...

Anyway, this lady needs some sleep...

it is late and tomorrow is another day....

Thanks for dropping by....

Toodles

Day11 of our new year....I want to be that in sync

2012-01-11T10:42:00.003-05:00

Their site

I have been studying for hours already and my dh must have known I needed a diversion
for a few moments. Sometimes you just have to stop everything and sit a spell with
your cup of joe and be entertained...JOIN me will you...this is most certainly worth
the moment you will be spending with me. Ok, the lyrics need work, but the idea
that they are all in sync with one another..that is what I am celebrating this morning..
Pretty cool! My kids would be sew impressed that I actually enjoyed this...lol

Brought along my fav cup, I am really trying

to think primary colours..not an easy task for me..

OHHHH the video...yes the video

Let's tune in over a cup of joe..

OUR JOE....x

Walk off the Earth..( think we will be hearing more of them)

apparently they are Canadians..I believe in Toronto!

bigger cool..

p.s all this was done on my IMAC today

( learned how to do add videos and graphics..)

only took me 47 hours sew far to learn that lol...

Day 7 - A reminder to never take myself too seriously....

2012-01-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

This is what is on my desktop on my IMAC...

Ellie and Carl Fredrikson

( animated characters from PIXAR's "UP")

It is a reminder to ME, to never take ME too seriously..

I know no coffee cup to be seen....lol what a shocker...

OHHHH I thought about it...but when I saw this animated

film back in 2009, it never has left me....I went seeking for

a great shot and this is the one that had me UPlifted sew to speak.

My husband and I have this kind of relationship....Spirited,

Fun, Laughter with a reminder that each day is an adventure...

We try to never forget that...always look UP....

SEW there you have it...if you have not seen UP,

do yourself a favor and watch it....YOU too may value

the simple things life has to offer...I always DO! ( now)

Storyline....A young Carl Fredrickson meets a young adventure spirited girl named Ellie. They both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America. 70 years later, Ellie has died. Carl remembers the promise he made to her. Then, when he inadvertently hits a construction worker, he is forced to go to a retirement home. But before they can take him, he and his house fly away. However he has a stowaway aboard. An 8 year old boy named Russell, who's trying to get an Assisting the Elderly badge. Together, they embark on an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain and a rare bird named Kevin.

Here are some facts I thought were pretty admirable...Their budget for this animation was 175 million. From the release to November 2011 Box office has grossed 731.341,00 Million in $$$
For an ANIMATION...wow!....Maybe I will be doing some animation in my near future lol.

And now an update on my HYACINTHS...remember last week I planted them...well look what a bit of sunshine and 7 days can do.....

UPDATE 2 days after showing these pics..

LOOK...PINK and WHITE...

they needed a bit of sun kisses..!

Who thinks they will be opened this week?

More pics next week..

And I did manage to get a block done for a WONKY HOUSE

Swap Jane is managing... NOW I must confess, I am not

much of a wonky person...It is a challenge for me...

This was my first attempt...

I got it all wrong...

Hard to tell what it was...I was trying to color co-ordinate

it all and make it soft....NAH scratch that one....

Then after seeing the CUP bookcase...Jane

said "YOU need to do your own thing"

Well coffee is MY thing...sew I did a coffee house....

It's a bit wonky..but still not bright enough...

Sew I will be working on a couple more tomorrow...

Will have to really dig for wonky color fabrics...

As stated..I am not much of a WONKY lady lol

( ok, no comments there )

Sew there you have it...with a bit less pressure

from the OTHER BLOG...lol

I actually had a moment or two to do something

on my blog....

Ok, off to the kitchen to create some fancy dish

for supper...

Day 6 of our NEW YEAR..Percolating a bit...

2012-01-06T10:51:00.002-05:00

There are a few things that really excite me..

THIS one...OMGoodness....this is a must have...

It stand about 4 feet tall....is this just the most amazing

workmanship ever??? lol

YOU are by now aware I have a bit of coffee obsession..

YOU can see my collection here..

If you cannot connect, let me know

I have a few coffee mugs, mug mats, theme art work

around my home. I have a coffee station for goodness

sake and my cat is called Sumatra after my fav, coffee blend.

Well this YEAR with a full course load

of studies in Digital Design...I suspect

I will be drinking a few more cups than my normal

intake of 2-3 a day..

I PERCOLATE ON THIS...

I received my "Syallabus"

An outline or a summary of the main points of a text, lecture, or course of study.

last week, sew in preparation of my studies I must get

familiar with my new IMAC . I have been working on a Windows

platform for quite awhile...than I got an IPAD ( apple)

and then decided I wanted to learn Digital Design...I can do all this in a

windows environment- sure- but I like challenges sew

if I am going to learn something new...( 5 brand new softwares)

in 1 year...

I may as well as throw in an

Mac OS X10.7.2 LIONS

APPLE is no doubt managed by 95% MALES,

or sew it seems by the content of videos I have had to

peruse....But here is my observation....

BTW I really have learned sew much in a just a couple

of days...

My Master Teacher is a bit dull, but he knows his stuff

and that I will celebrate...

My hubby last night was chuckling as I was sharing

about my ----dock station, and mission control, system preferences,

magic pad , launchpad

and spotlight, text to speech and my LIONS MAC

I told him, I don't get that they don't have lipstick colors

and floral icons, and coffee references..WHY??????

Well I have percolated enough on that ...thought

I would share something while I break from my first 3 hours

of lessons...must return...

And yes Gail I will be doing another wonky house later today lol

What SWEET thing have you learned today..?

Day 2 of a New Year...sifting through some drawers..

2012-01-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

Now before you think I am going to do daily postings....

NAHHHHHH that is not going to work for me...lol

I was sifting through some drawers, ridding some old

stock when I came across this.....

I was sew excited to show you this triple sifter

that was given to be by my Nanny...it is from the early 50's

I still use it today...What is unique about this one...which I

have come to realize - they are few in circulation... this one

I turn with the yellow handle....

It sifts flour 3 x ...which is why my shortbread tastes

sew fine....... My Nanny loved buttercream colors too lol

Think of the moments frozen in time that have sifted through

this unique old fashioned relic.....

Do any of you have any of these are similar

they were made by a company called Androck...?

Now I also had this one, which I gave to my

oldest daughter, she loves it...and won't give it back....

I wanted to share this because I had a request over the holidays

for a piece of BARN WOOD....and within days one large

piece with some hand hammered iron for a brace

was attached...I was super excited and thanks to Evelyn

I now have a perfect prop for photos...My husband

cut it in 3 and anchored the back, and now

I have something super unique, ONE OF A KIND

background piece....

Not a very feminine post, or anything quilty...

but it is ME, the new ME...lol

Not really....

Just something to share what was going on with my morning...

And yours, how is yours going?

Sifting through anything?

Off to town to run some errands..

YOU is important to ME!

My 1st morning of 2012...

2012-01-01T11:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years....no stitching today, but I did

accomplish a couple things this morning...I poured

myself my fav brew this morning Green Mountain coffee

Nantucket.. Cuddled in on my window seat

this very cold morning and PINNED a few pink things Ü

( My favourite new cup goes well with my gifted cotton pink

blanket from my girls)

We have a bit of snow, not much, certainly not what we are used too

and I miss it terribly....

Oh Sumatra my Ragdoll feline, loves to join

me, where ever I am, she is underfoot

or in this case this morning, sharing my bench with me...

She loves the smell of coffee, hence her name

Sumatra...I always wanted a cat that matched my kitchen

and looked like coffee....lol

Love red and white as much as I love PINK...

These gorgeous flowers came way by a dear

friend on Christmas Eve... She knows me sew well....

Lighting was good this morning, sew I took

a couple more shots...

Sew fresh and clean ....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Hyacinth. on my window sill...

Tradition around here on New Years Eve is to always

get a few bulbs of Hyacinth and planted them in my new

CUPS...giant ones at that...I added my cups to compare....

These were from my children, who obviously know I am

over the top obsessed with anything coffee related...

Both these cups and saucers were found in their travels...

I will keep taking photos of them in their progression..

We are not sure of their colors yet, sew that will be a surprise....\

Sew my dears, I have a kitchen that is beckoning me to get

some french onion soup on, another New Years Tradition for us..

The day will be spent cuddling with my honey

and watching some old movies...

( no photos of them lol)

My best as always..

YOU are KIND, Smart and Important to me..

To a colorful NEW YEAR...

ON the eve of an eve.....and an ALTOID request...( re-gift too)

2011-12-29T15:04:00.004-05:00

Help yourself to the 2012 graphics..

I love a NEW YEAR for all the right reasons

I love the New Year because it's a new season

And remember

YOU is KIND, YOU is SMART

and YOU is Important to me!

p.s help yourself to my graphic

ATTENTION: P.S again...
By chance if any of you have any of these ALTOID TINS.
I have a wee project that needs your attention...send me one or two
and I will be re-gifting one back to you...
Let me know --will send you my address...
Any shape or size btw...we don't get these around here.
HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
( mints do not need to be included lol)

A quiet morning

2011-12-17T08:10:00.001-05:00

I have always been a morning person.

I go to bed early and I wake early.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am sew grateful for the aroma that first

brew of coffee brings to my senses..

I am grateful for my breakfast nook and

the view I had this morning..

ST-Nick here in the window displays

the morning waking up with me ...

The sky a soft blue, mirroring the coolness in the air...

I grab my IPAD, a couple of shortbreads and stir

with anticipation what this day will unfold for me...

A week from now it will be Christmas EVE

and I will be participating fully in each moment

as if they were my last...

AS I embrace this season of my life

I am thrilled to share it with you..

This morning and many more....

Thank you for sharing yours with me!

May you always have LOVE to share,

HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

Distracted not really....

2011-12-14T16:19:00.003-05:00

I was warned about this....

I can tell you honestly I have been very busy behind

the scenes for 2012....for that other blog

I also am working on 4 projects that I will soon

be sharing..

Just wanted to drop you a quick note

to say...

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near,
A little gift from one held dear,
Best wishes for the coming year…

Whatever your wishes
these are what I wish for you!

I loved you yesterday, I love you still, I always have, I always will.

2011-12-09T08:09:00.002-05:00

This morning I was sipping my coffee

( Green Mountain Breakfast Blend)

on my window bench, and I could

not help but reflect on all the wonderful

memories that our ornaments on our kitchen

tree has brought to me...

Take this one..this was taken a couple years ago

while celebrating another grandchild...we were

sew excited to be grandparents... ( this was our 4th)

This one from a dear colleague-

we sipped over many cups of coffee

reading clinical papers through the years.

She gifted this to me as a reminder..

It sew fills my cup per say lol

This from a dear friend who was my

illustrator for "our" nutrition book..

I think she thought I was a bit bossy

through the process..I laughed sew much

when I saw this, and still today...because

it is sewwwwwwwww true...

( the better ideas part) lol

This was from my husband who somehow

managed on his own to size our book on wee

Kermit here, a reminder of one of our most

successful journeys as authors...

OHHH this one I shall never forget, the year was 2007...

How Hallmark knew enough to design a toaster that year

is beyond me....HOWEVER it was perfect.

I got up this cold October morning, and placed

some english muffins in my toaster...when I heard

some movement....I looked inside the toaster

and there was an itty bitty mouse...I SCREAMED

as only a woman can do, David came rushing downstairs...

" GET that toaster out of the house NOW".....

That day we went out and purchased a 4 slicer....

I never wanted to be reminded of that morning again..

OK, now this brings a smile...cause David found

this toaster as an ornament that year...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh this one I love

another one of my colleagues and I exchanged

gifts every year. She always thought I was

such a girly girl, ( which of course I am..)

and gave this to me, said it reminded her of me...

Ahhhhhh

Starting to see a theme here...coffee,

One of my very dear male friends owned a coffee

shop, Timothy's...my fav hang out before work.

He gifted this to me one year as I was obsessed with

snowman pins....I love this one, still brings a smile to this day...

When we moved from the big city to this very small town

and built ourselves a small bungalow in 2008, this Hallmark

ornament came out...A perfect reminder of the next chapter

of our life....How sweet it has been..

There are hundreds more, but I have some Christmas

stitching to do today, and I just wanted to share a little

:ME: with you.....

What is your favorite ornament?

Do you get a new one every year?

Joy and Peace Tree Skirt Tutorial

2011-12-07T15:07:00.001-05:00

close up..

On the 21st day of Christmas my True Love

said to me..."Where is our Tree Skirt?"

"Well......I haven't made one yet?"

Sew with the help of Pellon ( the makers

of the magic in the middle)

I set out to do just that...

I called it Joy and PEACE...!

YOU will need the following Ingredients...

#1 First the pattern piece...

YOU will need to cut out 8 of these...

#2 Then ....12-20 - 5 inch squares..* any Christmas flavor you like

I fused mine to pieces of Wonder Under paper backed fusible web

I have always used this for applique. I find it easier to draw on

the best for die cut pieces and the best to keep fabric soft...

It is not rigid and never ever do I get edges that fray..

MY #1 reason to use this one...

Sew with my 20 fav colors in this case ivory, reds

and greens, I ironed them on directly to the Wonder Under..

If you have a Baby Go you will need these 2 dies.

or you can easily cut them out... Some trees, some

holly and berries and some large circles

#3 arrange on scaled tree skirt...I took my one pattern

piece and cut out this circle from shipping paper from

the post office.

#4 After cutting out all the pieces I arranged them on my

pattern piece tree skirt...

# 5 I used the same pattern piece to cut out 8 pieces

from my white KONA for my background...

( will need at least 2 yards of white kona for 8 pieces)

#6 sew them all together leaving 2 end pieces open...

all 1/4 inch seam, press each seam to the side.

#7 All pieces are now sewed, now take a dessert plate,

mark your centre and cut out circle

#8 Place again, score with pin the backs of pieces,

iron on ...

#9 Blanket stitch all ironed pieces on your tree skirt

#10 I then slipped this between the topper

and batting by PELLON ( flleece full loft...nice and full for a tree skirt),

pure white for me...

and traced JOY and PEACE between each tree and ball.

I also just drew a wee bow and a wavy line over each ball

and using my FINCA Perle BLACK Presencia Threads

I stitched using a stem stitch...

( Jane has this thread)

#11 Sandwich back, Pellon Batting and topper..

now ready to cut out circle for Tree Skirt,

bind and Glue on some Down strips ( 2.5 pieces 1 metre long)

and voila...

On the 19th day of Christmas my -True love said to me--

"Sparky, we have a Tree Skirt, where are the presents?"

"ahhhhh I haven't done them yet....lol"

And you wonder what I do with my days....

( sew yes a few of you were indeed correct..a TREE SKIRT)

YOU all sew smart....

Checking off my list, checking it twice......

2011-12-06T07:42:00.000-05:00

YES there is JOY in our home...and PEACE

and yes lot's of LOVE what there wasn't was....

this mystery project..

I am completing it today...still have a bit more

hand quilting..was thinking machine quilting...but

I just couldn't do it....I am pretty quick with my stitches

sew for the last few days that is what I have been doing...

Today my plan is to add the binding, ( gotta make it first)

this will be a tutorial for a company that requested it..

using some of their products of course...

I had one thought in mind when I first came up with it..

but like a snowball that takes on its own path..

I kept rolling with the movement...

And came up with this..

What is it?

( look at the shape of my text

looks like a berry....you know holly berry...

purely by accident no less lol)

Off to sip some coffee and get to stitching..

I have a deadline...

Traditions a la Madame Samm - shortbread and Christmas stories

2011-12-01T10:11:00.001-05:00

The Value of Traditions...

I am a traditional person, what? define traditional?- -pertaining to or characteristic of older styles.
"You traditional, I can hear you shouting, nothing traditional about you?"

Well let me explain I love Traditions. Take for instance Christmas baking. Every year it is customary for me to purchase pounds of unsalted butter,

( it was on sale locally ( Foodland, my fav grocer) last week for 2.79 a pound that is much better than

the regular cost of 5.29, purchased 20 pounds...( freezing some)

fresh corn starch, fresh flour, lot's of fresh lemons and I bake our traditional shortbread tarts filled with lemon curd. My family and friends depend on me to continue this burst of sunshine in their mouth as they tell me...Tradition. I bet many of you also carry out traditions too. This one year I made a new shortbread with cranberries and chocolate..My family loved them, my friends did not complain, but cries of "where is your shortbread tarts with lemon curd, where are those? Albeit, never did that again, it has become known in this household we have traditions for a reason...they can count on them....they can count on me.

Sew this week, I baked my Shortbread lemon tarts, along with all of my traditional baking, and I am done, complete, all in the freezer, all in specialty tins, all ready to be shipped on Monday. I am ahead of schedule by one day, so another thing that is a tradition for me anyway, is gathering my collection of books by Donna VanLiere every year she comes up with another and now with quick downloads to my ipad, I am in heaven. I am going to cuddle with my coffee, some shortbread and my IPAD and read these books, today it will be Christmas shoes and the Christmas NOTE...her new one this year... I still have them all in book form, can you imagine me just saying that...BOOKS in their original form...lol

Ohhhh note my wee snowman I designed him I was a doll maker...that seems sew long ago.

He is a tradition too...he will be sitting by me, near the fireplace ( not too close, in case he melts more

than my heart) and I will bask in the warmth of Donna's stories...ahhhh toodles...

Do you have a traditional moment or two that has become

your seasonal favorite?

Do you AUGH...tell me about it....I am listening lol

2011-11-25T10:22:00.004-05:00

This was how I WAS feeling...

today I am much better...Ü

And let me serve you up why I am smiling today...

AMY BRADLEY knows all about GOODNESS

and SWEETNESS and GENUINE FUNNY....

( check out her latest designs)

She makes me laugh...She sent along a box

filled with goodies to share...

That is the kind of person she is....

ONE you TRUST....

ONE who knows how to bring a smile..

well in this case TIMELY smiles....

SEW I thought...why not

SERVE this one as a giveaway...

She gave me plenty to share.....'cause that is the kind of designer

she is....and she knew I would have to make this one reallllllll quick...

SEW the winner will get this topper...

MINE, here...it is not perfect

but I am sure you will come up with something to do with it...

sandwich, pad it, quilt it, frame it..it will be yours

with her Pattern..and there are 2 of these precious

ladies on it...one smiling and the other

AUGHHHHHHHHHH

HHHHHHHHHHH!

( I will add some batting and backing too

and enough for binding...oh just because)

Yep that is how I was feeling!

Sew if you would like to win

this special package

from Amy...and my wee imperfect

but loved kit...

Tell me what makes you go AUGH?

And how do you turn that around....

Winner announced on Monday Nov, 28th. 2011

YOU won KATHY.....shayshap..

email sent to you....off this will go as soon as you connect with me

thanks to all those who participated...

I have a few more to giveaway soon enough x

shayshap said...

Hi samm, What makes me go aghhhhh, someone making expresso and waking away leaving a mess. At the end of the day with my 4yo granddaughter who I love dearly but she can't stop taking and asking questions for two seconds in 10 hours, yes I go aghhhhh. Hope you had a great holiday. Thanks, kathy

Happy Thanksgiving !

2011-11-24T08:08:00.001-05:00

I know personally I am thankful for YOU!

You is kind, you is smart you is important

to me~!

*Sew I Quilt*