You're sure it's Thursday?

With the help of good ole Gibson (aka: Gibby Kitty) ...

...(he always looks mad, doesn't he?) I WAS able to get all 80 of my Virginia Bound blocks done, and even sewn into pairs!

Here's my first of the nine quilts I intend to finish this year (perhaps this summer???)

What's today....Thursday?

As promised, Block #3 of my Baltimore Folk Fusion is completed.  I wish I had used a darker colour for the cat, but it's done.

I also finished the binding on my Shirt-Stripes Boxes quilt.  I'll take a photo tonight, when my 'crew' is here to help, and post it tomorrow. I can't express how please I am with the final product.  It's wonderful!

And finally, I got 10 more blocks completed for Virginia Bound.  I'm now at 68, leaving 22 to go, and guess what?  I have those 22 blocks partially done.  I might be able to finish those this morning, and start assembly!  Very exciting!!!

Oooh!  And I just checked the weather forecast for today.  Lookin' good!  Might actually be able to get back outside again - - it's been a wee bit chilly for the past week.  Tomorrow appears to be PERFECT for outdoor relaxing--a high of 24!

G'mornin'!

Busy day yesterday.  Hubby and I ran some errands in the morning, and while he napped in the afternoon, I got half of the binding on my Shirt-Stripes Boxes quilt.

I also disassembled most of the shirts I picked up yard sale-ing on the weekend, and worked away a bit at my 3rd Baltimore Folk Fusion block.  I should have it done today, and will be able to post a photo tomorrow.

Other than that?  Well...I'm still thinking about my timetable for next year, and what to do about it.  If I was smart, I'd go ahead and pick up a couple more credits this summer...ugh......

Making Progress

First, I got my little lunch bag done last night:

I think it turned out cute.  And, just as I was tying the loose ends off, the phone rang.  My Shirt-Stripe Boxes quilt was ready to pick up from the quilter!  YAY!!!  Itty Bitty drove me over (he's becoming a much more natural driver, and practices daily) to pick it up.  I'm so happy with it!  I think I'll work on assembling the binding today.

Rainy Sundays are perfect for sewing -- & Yesterday's Yard Sales

Don't you think rainy Sundays are just perfect for sewing?  So far this morning, I have tidied up my sewing studio -- I had been to Gail's for QNIC last night, so my machine and projects were still in the car, optimal time for wiping down tables, putting fabric away, etc.


Then I prepped my 3rd block for my Baltimore Folk Fusion quilt. Here's a pic of the quilt.  Bear in mind that I copied the patterns at 200% so my blocks are 15" instead of 8", as in the photo.

Next, I prepped some of the applique for a table runner that I started at QNIC last night (because I need to start new projects!)  It's shown on the left side of the cover of this book.  It's the runner with the flower basket on either end.

And, just in case I run out of things to do, I also started a little lunchbag from this pattern (top, right hand corner).  I'm using Moda "Dandelion Girl" fabrics for it.

Yesterday, Hubby and I travelled about an hour west of here to Petrolia to take in their town-wide yard sale.  I tried to keep my purchases to a minimum, because I'd like to start taking things OUT, rather than bringing things IN to this house. 


Best purchase of the day?  I new umbrella for our patio table.  It's HUGE, and rectangular (like our table), and was brand new with the tags still attached -- $20. As usual, I found a few cotton shirts to repurpose, and some vintage hand embroidered linens.


Most exciting purchase was a cardboard box marked "Cotton Quilt Patches", full of vintage feedsack scraps.  I paid a whole quarter for it, and when I sorted through it last night, I found a pretty little thimble, and a mysterious paper bag.  Inside the paper bag was two of the most delicate and beautiful baby dresses.  Unfortunately, they are badly stained from the paper, but I think I'll try to launder them gently, and see what happens. At another house, I purchase a ziploc bag of sewing notions for another quarter, and inside I see two thimbles and an old, old pair of scissors.  I haven't sorted through that bag yet.  I'll have to post photos later.

...and a good time was had by all.

As promised, the second block of my Baltimore Folk Fusion is done.

I had a great time at the quilt show in St. Mary's yesterday, particularly enjoyed the vendors!  I became aware of a new source "Pastime Pieces", an online vendor from Blenheim.  I checked out her website this morning, and while that was rather disappointing, I'll be looking for her at future quilt shows for sure! 

And yes, indeed, I found lots of B&W prints. Here are two of my favourites:

Going to a Quilt Show!

I'm heading out this morning to St. Mary's to see the Huron Perth Quilters' Guild & Stonetowne Quilters' Guild show with a couple of quilty friends.  Just saw the list of vendors...whoooo hoooooooo!!!!!


I'll be looking for more black and white prints - - Gail and I have come up with a plan to expand my Black & White quilt to bed size.


I'be been working away at my Virginia Bound blocks.  I have 48 'sub'blocks completed, and another ten half-finished.  It's completely joyful sewing.  Mindless, zombie quilting.

I spent hours and hours outside yesterday, digging around in my dirt. There's a patch of garden between the church next door and the driveway we share with two other neighbours, which I had sort of "adopted" two years ago.  I got that piece all cleaned up, and then went next door to meet the new priest. Nice, nice lady. (Maybe I should mention it's an Anglican church?) I think they are from B.C. Her husband is a retired social worker (MSW), and her daughter is going to be going to the same university where I am to work on her prerequisites to get into the BSW program. We had a nice chat about the church, St. Thomas,  social work, and King's, etc.


She told me the church had sold the rectory (which is on the other side of street) so when I got a chance yesterday afternoon, I went over and introduced myself to one half of the new neighbours. I invited them to stop over for a cocktail on the deck sometime, and I hope he and his partner will accept my invitation.  They have been doing a fantastic amount of work outside, and the property is looking gorgeous.


Late in the afternoon, I sat in the sunshine on the back deck and read my book.

It was an Oprah Book Club choice from 1998 and it's really good!  I have had marginal success with Oprah choices - sometimes really good (A Map of the World, A Million Little Pieces, Fall on Your Knees) and really not so good (The Reader, Daughter of Forturne, The Measure of a Man).  It's written by Chris Bohjalian.

"On an icy winter night in an isolated house in rural Vermont, a seasoned midwife named Sibyl Danforth takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency cesarean section on a mother she believes has died of a stroke. But what if Sibyl's patient wasn't dead—and Sybil inadvertently killed her? As Sibyl faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do."

Last night, I worked on another Baltimore/Folk Fusion (this is the name I've invented for these applique blocks) and had only five more little leaves to stitch down, and then popped the eye of my needle through the end of my finger.  I guess my quilting calous must have gotten thin in my hiatus from sewing!  It was too sore to put a thimble on last night and struggle through those last few stitches, but I bet I'll have a photo to share of my second block to share tomorrow!

a little about what I've been up to...

I started this applique block about two weeks ago.  It's from a book that I bought last February when I was visiting Ottawa, (Seasons Sampler) and the quilt on the front cover has nine different blocks with a Folk Art/Baltimore Album fusion thing going on.  I've just about got the second block done.  It's my "handwork in bed" project.  I'm using stash from my CW repros.

I also began piecing "Virginia Bound" from "Scraps & Shirttails".  I've got 30 of the 80 'sub'blocks completed.  It's a fun project.  Lots of mindless sewing, because I'm paper-piecing each block. Bonnie Hunter recently blogged about teaching "Virginia Bound" and there's a slide show of the different blocks her students created.  Worth a look!

QNIC with Gail tonight.  I wonder who else will show up?

Back to blogging?

Can you believe Gibson is a year old now?  Seems like just yesterday he was a wee kitten.  Now he weighs over 15 pounds, talks ALOT, and loves nothing better than a good wrestling match!  This photo was taken yesterday afternoon.

So far, I'm liking this "holidays" thing.  I bet I'll be bored to tears within a week though.  I just can't NOT be busy doing something.  Today, I scaled Mount Laundry (last load is in the dryer now), made a QUADRUPLE batch of banana bread with Itty Bitty, and sewed.  Yes, I sewed!

I might just get back to doing some regular blogging...

It's the Summer of Nancy!

Yes, it's official.  Yesterday was the first full day of the summer of Nancy - - can you believe Summer started in April?  And wasn't it nice that I organized full sun, and 26 degrees?

Hubby and I spent the morning digging in the dirt.  We got quit a bit done, and filled to huge composters, so I'll have to wait until after garbage day before I can do much more.  Then we went to London for lunch and a little shopping.  In the evening we hung out with friends in their yard.  It was a beautiful day!

Itty Bitty had to be at school this morning for 6:30, because he is going to Windsor to give a permormance with the school choir -- he'll be acompanying on bass guitar, not singing.  'tho I think he should.  I bet he has a lovely voice.

A little more work in the garden this morning I believe. 

We were at a certain large store yesterday (it's Canadian, and I believe they are know for selling Tires there) and had a chat with a gal there about weed killing products.  Since the recent ban on many of these herbicide products, there isn't a lot to choose from.  She gave us a 'recipe' that we are going to try.  I'll report back on its effectiveness.

Two more days of School!

I got all of my final papers handed in yesterday.  I have two more days to put in at my practicum.  And then?  I declare it the SUMMER OF NANCY!!!

I'm giddy with the possibilities! I don't know what I'll do!!! 

The End is Near!!!

Welcome to Hell Weekend - Part Deux!  I still have two papers to write - both due on Monday. The cat is keeping me entertained, playing hockey with a bottle cap on the basement floor.

Yes, it's 4 in the morning.  I'm doing laundry, blogging... Gosh, it seems like forever since I've had one of these sleepless nights!  (I don't miss 'em!)

Last Week of School

Welcome to HELL WEEKEND!!!  I have five papers to write this weekend (so of course, I'm updating my blog, and playing Scrabble on Facebook).

Did you see the Google logo today, commemorating the 205th birthday of Hans Christian Anderson?

Itty Bitty got his G2 this week - - that is, his beginner's driver's license.  I've taken him out to practice a couple of times, and only screamed once.  And that was not out of anger, but sheer terror.  He's a little rough on the brakes, and I'm worried that I might end up with a brain injury from all of the jolting back and forth, but really?  He's not that bad, if I do say so myself!

One more lecture, and about two more weeks of practicum, and I'm done YEAR III.  WOW!!  Can you believe it?  Seems like I just started! 

So, in case I don't ever get back with an update this weekend, have a Happy Easter!