Picky, picky, picky

I knit. I'm not that good a knitter but I do muddle along. I learned from my mom years and years ago - so long ago that I don't remember her teaching me. I used to knit and crochet a bit before my children were born. Once they were here, I sewed more. It was faster. I enjoyed sewing and since I had always done it, it became my main hobby. Making dresses, shirts and pants for my little ones was pure joy. It still is.
Since I became a grandmother, I have taken up knitting once again. I had my knitting needles and I dug out the stash of yarn, enhancing it, just like the fabric stash. Quite often I work on more than one project at a time and this creates a problem when I am in need of number 4 mm or 4.5 mm needles. When I go to look for a pair, they are being used for something else. Since I can't wait to finish the 'something else,' I sometimes end up buying another pair. I haven't counted how many pairs of the same size needles I have BUT, I am picky about the kind of needles I work with. I don't like the plastic ones because they 'stick.' I knit the European way and it's a lot quicker if the needles are made of aluminum.

 I think I have tried these bamboo ones but they are not as smooth as aluminum.

When I was in BC last year, my daughter, grandsons and I stopped in at a local Legion that has a permanent rummage sale in the basement. Loads of great stuff for pennies - almost.

My absolute best finds were these. Aluminum knitting needles in various sizes. Ten cents a pair. Trust me, I made sure that these were aluminum by tapping them against the metal legs of the table that they sat on. I left the bent ones. I was not interested in what size the needles were, I just wanted quantity - because, you see, I was leaving to go back home and we weren't going to be visiting this place again before I left. Quite a few of them have the American size on them but I'm getting pretty good at knowing that a 6 is actually a 4 mm and an 8 is a 5mm. I can now work on so many different small projects at once (not really.) But it means that I can make two baby booties at the same time. I know I can knit them both on the same needles but I hate the tangling of the two balls of yarn.

I wonder if they have double pointed needles there now? Maybe I can ask my daughter to go check. After all, I have my helpful little gauge so it doesn't matter what size the needles are, I can always find out.

Huh?

A pre-printed panel for twin B. I don't consider panels 'real' quilts. However, I did want to hand quilt it since I have small enough boards to put it on a frame.

I put the light on to show you the quilting. Seriously, what was I thinking?

That's a lot of quilting for the border of a pre-printed panel.

I got wise after doing the end and decided that I was not going to do that much quilting on the sides.

Even those little teddies got quilted around the outside. The red stripes are quilted on both sides but the gingham only got the centre squares quilted. As I said, I got wise. Then again, it is for a soon-to-be-born grandchild.

Today is a special day. It was 32 years ago that my son Eric was born.

 Here he is with his little nephews, Luc and Patric, last year (in July.) He's always been so good with little ones. Luckily, since he is a teacher.

And here he is with his older brother Mark and little Luc. Again, last year's photo. 

He hasn't changed.

 He still looks the same. This was taken last weekend at the Twin Shower. The expectant parents and the future grandparents of twins fill out the photo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!!

Meetings (photos fixed)

Last year my son Mark, and his wife Kate, went to Scandinavia and extended their vacation to include Finland, where my ancestors are from. Almost at the last minute, I emailed my long ago pen pal to let her know that they would be in Helsinki and she was gracious and kind enough to want to meet them and took them on a tour of the National Theatre.
This year, my daughter Maili and her boyfriend Casey went on a two week tour to Scandinavia and are now in Helsinki. They too met my pen pal and spent the whole day checking out little out-of-the-way places -- walking everywhere.

Maili and Satu (the name I know her by.)

 Casey, Satu and her sister.

I'm glad that my children at least have gotten to meet someone who I have not yet met. We started writing in 1960? 1962? We were children then and wrote until after we got married and had children of our own. Then, life got in the way and we lost track of each other. It was through the internet and my wonderful blogger friend Ulla that we were able to connect once more. 

 Perhaps one day Satu and I will meet in person.

Note: Sorry to all those who visited but didn't see the photos. They were fine when I posted but didn't show up when the post went 'live.' Thanks for letting me know.

Sew Sisters Quilt Shop

I do hope you are enjoying the summer (or winter, if you are 'Down Under'.) I just wanted to let everyone know about a wonderful online Canadian quilt shop, Sew Sisters. They do have a bricks and mortar store too but since it's in the northern part of the city, I tend shop online. I have been quite pleased with their service and so have other quilters that I know. In case you want to make a quick quilt for Christmas, why not make one of these?


It's a whole kit with the panel and the lights. I bought one last year for my friend Judy who put it together. She used it instead of putting up her tree.
Note: I took the photo from Sew Sister`s web site.

Right now, Sew Sisters has free shipping in Canada until the end of the month. So, if you are in need of fabric or a kit, check them out.

Beginner Crazy Quilt Class

Now that the enrollment for the course has ended, we have a list of supplies that are going to be used.

 Here's my selection. Neutral background fabrics, embroidery floss or perle cotton, bits of lace, various needles, beads and silk ribbon. Since I have lots of embroidery floss, I decided that I would like to use perle cotton for this. The only ones I had though, were size 3 and 5 and what was recommended was size 8 or 12. It took me a long time to choose these colours because there was a lot of choice (sometimes not a good thing for me.) I did have to go quite a ways to find the store to get them, though. For some reason, even though this is a big metropolitan city that I live in, there are very few needle art stores. One has to travel to the suburbs to find silk ribbon and perle cottons in colours other than beige and white.

Done and delivered

Now that these have safely arrived, I can show you what I have finished.

This is a mug rug in the middle of being made. It shows the colours a bit truer than...

this photo.

Mug rug number 2.

I'm linking up with The Needle and Thread Network. Pop on over and take a look at what other bloggers are making.

More fabric and the first dress

I don't need anymore fabric but...

I could not pass up the low volume fat quarter (I think it's just gorgeous,) and the other two, the Canadian hockey player and the the fun doggy heads will be going into an eye spy quilt for one of those little boys in BC. I saw this 'disappearing ink' marker and figured I would try it out - just because. I will see how well or how poorly it works. I'm not a fan of chemicals on my fabric. One never knows what will happen to the marks down the road, in twenty, thirty or fifty years.

Some flannel - for a rag quilt and for other projects.

And, from somewhere in Oslo, here's Maili modelling the first dress I made for her. 

This one has a belt. Here's a close-up of the fabric.

Now, I've got to get back to doing something - there are so many things started...

Oh yes, I almost forgot. There was no supermoon viewing for us because there was a bit of cloud cover. My husband noticed that there were no stars to be seen either. I wanted to see if the moon was out there at all and so we took a small drive (we live among buildings and trees) and lo and behold, the moon did peek out but it was really fuzzy. Cloud cover hid it.

New dress, new quilt, new course and another quilt

Here's a new dress that I had to finish before my daughter Maili left for a two week vacation to Scandinavia.

It's the same pattern as the one I showed earlier when it was in the cutting stage. 

The fabric was a bargain, half price at Fabricland. It has a bit of spandex to it so for $7.00, Maili got a new travel dress.

I made it longer than she requested when she tried on the original dress and I think it's perfect. The neck and armholes are finished with self bias binding. This one does not have the seams finished as I found the fabric didn't seem to unravel. I wanted a photo of her wearing the first one I made but Maili said she will send one once she has arrived across the pond and has tried it on.

Here's baby quilt #2. The panel has been on the frame for a week or so and I have started quilting it but I have had to leave it for a bit to do other things. I will get back to it shortly.

 

This is the project that the beginners are to complete in Kathy Shaw's free Beginner Crazy Quilt Class. I have signed up and the class begins July 16th.

*****Note: Photo used with permission.

If you are at all interested, here's her web site so you can sign up. There is an intermediate class too but you cannot join it unless you have completed the beginner class. It's all free, all you have to do is supply your own fabrics and embellishments and finish the block by the end of the class.

http://www.shawkl.com/

 I don't know if anyone who reads my blog remembers this rag quilt that I made for Luc, above on the left. The boys, Luc and Patric have their own 'thrones' where they sit and watch television. The 'thrones' are apple boxes. Sturdy things, those.

It's a reversible quilt that I made before Luc was born and his mom, my daughter Laila, didn't know if she was going to have a boy or a girl.

Well, his mother has now requested a rag quilt for Patric.

Since Fabricland still has a sale on, I am planning to see what kind of flannel they have. Hopefully, something that would catch his attention like the one above.

Busy weekend ahead.
Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.
BTW, there is a supermoon tonight, if you get a chance to view it.

Block of the month update

Just a little update. I'm still busy with baby things that I can't show yet.

 This is Quilt Doodle's 2014 June and July blocks.

The pattern for the skates was just for four black skates but I had to be gender equal.

The cups were just all cups but since I usually drink my tea from a mug, I decided to change the pattern a bit. Also, I didn't want them all the same colour.

I'm linking up to What a Hoot 
and also to The Needle and Thread Network. 

Celebrations

Here are a few of the parade shots from yesterday. I forgot I had my camera so I didn't take a photo of the pipe bands.

These motorcycle officers were doing figure eights on the street. Since we were sitting on the curb, close to a turn in the parade route, we missed some of the fancy moves.

The scouts are always in the parade. This is actually a scouting drum corps.

I love these cars and it looks like these Shriners do too.

I guess they practice their moves - or else they do a lot of parades.

Roller derby girls called the Derby Debutantes.

I wonder how this is powered.

You could tell when this float gets close. They crank up the country music nice and loud.

Hard to play a banjo when you don't have all the strings.

They always seem to have fun.

This is what the float was towing. 

There wasn't much more - at least not exciting enough to take a photo of.

This little girl, my baby,


Ayla,



is celebrating her 30th birthday today.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Canada Day

Happy Canada Day