I'm a really bad blogger. Halfway through August already how did that happen? Warning! This post is loaded with pictures.
 |
| dragonfly in our garden |
Well I caught the dreaded summer cold which is finally after a month seeming to be on it's last legs. We took a trip to the local zoo where I took over 700 pictures deleting the blurry ones as I went - I can't even imagine what the film & processing cost would have been pre-DSLR!! but I got some incredible pictures of the lions feeding, the siberian tiger pacing, a very rude spider monkey (lets just say he was proud of his male parts), baboons, peacocks, eagles, cougar, zebra ... I could go on but you get the idea.Chris's brother and sister in law came from out west for a visit, they are so laid back it was a real treat spending time with them. I wish they lived closer. Then there was covering everyone's vacation at work & getting prepared for my own, a death (my uncles), a few birthdays & a bbq at my parents topped off with a trip to a local flea market.
 |
| A rescued Eagle at the zoo |
 |
| from Mom's garden |
I was really expecting to find some fabric at the flea market but all I
found were mass produced quilts from China (they had the manufacturer
tag on them - you know the one that says do not remove). SO
disappointing. While it was interesting to look at them they totally
cheated. The embroidery wasn't done well and was already pulled on most
that had it and the rag quilt lets just say the 'rag' was added after it
had been pieced. But do I wish I could do a perfect stipple like was on
every one of those quilts. $160/quilt can you imagine? Now that I know
the actual effort, thought and money that goes into a handmade quilt I
was a bit deflated to see these. Over all the entire flea market was
more like a massive
junk garage sale sprinkled with a
few legitimate sellers. Chris used to go to this flea market regularly
during his first marriage and he said it has changed. Very different
then what I think of from flea markets of my childhood. There is another
that is further out I remember going to as a child (funny enough the
one we went to is about 15 minutes away from where I grew up but don't
remember ever going to it) from the site it looks so much more promising
and driving an hour and a half each way it will be a nice way to spend a
Sunday. I would really love to go to the one in St Catherines we used
to go to with my grandmother but then again probably better I never do
in case doesn't live up to those happy memories with my grandmother.
 |
| He wouldn't move far enough from the fence to get the depth needed for the fence to be more transparent |
 |
| the exhibitionist Spider monkey |
 |
| Peacock |
 |
| I love this picture |
|
I'm on the last few days of my 2 week vacation. I'd say it really flew but lately everyday/week flies so not unexpected. Truthfully, it seems like it was only a few weeks ago we were watching the last few snow piles melt.
What have I been doing the past month and a half sewing
wise? I made a 4 patch log cabin that looks like a cross (was not my
intention) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it but it's not big
enough as is.
 |
| Mug rug my youngest designed |
From there I made some mug rugs and started making a scrappy 9 patch (16
squares of 36 different fabrics) I think I need more fabric). I'm the
first to admit I'm not a fast sewer, cutter, or layout/color decider. My
sweetie is so encouraging and tells me not to worry it will come as I
get more practice. The 9 patch is a real family project. I had them all
look at the fabrics and move them around, or sometimes replaced til they
all agreed they liked the combinations.I need to work on binding. Used the wrong stitch. I did see a tutorial after the fac.
 |
| Mug Rug 2 |
Exciting news - I got a promotion and splurged and bought a Sizzix big kick and a few flower dies to work on a memorial piece of my grannie that I'm making for my mom, and 2 aunts. Slowly the pieces for this project are coming together.
 |
| Family designed 9 scrappy patch |
Ever since I bought my sewing machine in February, there is a site I go to every couple of weeks and drool over the fabrics
Sew Sisters.
They also have 3 block of the month clubs that I keep telling myself
I'll join one of these days - well yesterday was the day. What better
way to spend a small portion of my promotion? Now each month to get to
have that spoiled feeling continue I took the the plunge and signed up
for the Kona (4 half yards of Kona solids), Bargain Lovers (10 fat
quarters) and Batik (4 half yards of Batiks). They also had grandmothers
garden kits for sale but only 6 different patterns online. I called the
store to find out if if they were going to turn it into a block of the
month but Judy (the owner who was incredibly helpful and very sweet)
informed me they started the kits last summer and only have those 6 left
(2 retro 30's and 4 brights). They will not be continuing with them.
She did assure me that the Block of the month clubs will not be going away
anytime soon.
 |
| Exhibitionist spider monkey |
Drat I really wanted her to say they were going to continue as a block of the month. When I bought the cutter I did look for hexagon dies but everywhere I went they were sold out. Last night I found a Canadian site
Stitch in the ditch that sells Sizzix dies and actually has the hexagon in stock I went and ordered a 1" die. This site mostly specializes in cutting/notions not a lot of fabric. Hoping it doesn't take too long for delivery.
 |
| 2 failed Mug rugs - look like Christmas trees |
Feeling pleased with myself, I went back to
Sew Sisters ordered a whack of the Morris Apprentice candy squares (I totally admit I'm taking the easy route by doing this) but will have 42 different hexies out of these little packs (hoping this will be enough). Found neutral Kona solid jelly rolls to cut up to make the third surrounding ring from the
Fat Quarters Shop. I have 4 meters of plain white cotton in my stash I can
painstakingly easily cut into 2.5" squares and being plain white will be easy to find/match when if I need more. I also bought Aspen Frost Christmas candy squares/charm packs. Bought 2 of the Candy and 1 Charm pack to make (non hexie) mug rugs. If they actually turn out I may give them as stocking stuffers (only 129 days 'til Christmas). This should keep me busy for a while!
 |
| Tiger pacing |
So what spurred this hexie mania? I've been asked to possibly travel to one of our offices in mid September for application testing. 2 weeks of evenings alone in hotel room with not much to do is what got me thinking about hexies and will probably be a great hand project to take with me. I also googled LQS's and it came up with 5 stores not far from where I'll be. If I'm feeling sick of my own company on the weekends I have a feeling I will probably use up my duty free allowance just on fabric. I hope my girls are interested in trying to make hexies, I'd happily get them the supplies to make their own quilt/pillow cases.
 |
| My clematis |
So that's it for now. Hopefully I'll have some progress to show before another month has passed.
Not sure what happened had to edit this 4 times to try to fix the formatting
I'm going to break into the Apprentice candy packs this weekend. Separate into 42 piles of 7 matching squares. I calculated 6 squares are needed for the middle ring and 1 for another's center which will give me the 42 unique patterns. I will need 504 hexies for the outer ring which is where the neutral jelly rolls come in. I did a quick count of 18 white are needed to surround each flower so 756? 294 + 504 + 756 = 1554 That's a whole lot of Hexagon's and I'm itching to get started!!
What have I been doing the past month and a half sewing
wise? I made a 4 patch log cabin that looks like a cross (was not my
intention) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it but it's not big
enough as is.
