On the Floor

What a fantastic weekend I had! 

This might sound strange -- but I didn't feel like I HAD to try to relax really hard to get it all in.  I actually got to just relax.  Weird, eh?

I puttered around, stayed in my jammies most of Sunday - - my housework is all caught up - - and I got some reading in - - On Saturday, Hubby and I went to a rummage sale at a nearby church, and picked up a pair of great lamps for our living room, and grabbed a coffee on the walk back to the apartment. 

Plus!  Yesterday, I took my sewing machine apart, gave it a throrough cleaning, changed the needle, gave it a drop or two of oil, and did some SEWING!!  I've gotten some more blocks done for Shirt Stripe Boxes.  Three shirts in so far, and I've got a fourth cut up, and ready to go!

It's been a busy week...

Don't let the photos fool you, I haven't stitched a darn thing since Sunday.  But I remembered to upload the pics!

Ya, bad pic.  But I have six more hexi flowers to add to the pile.

And I did give into the urge to start another Kaffe Fasset Shirt Stripe Boxes. I've got another shirt all cut up into triangles, and all ready for sewing this weekend.

But in all other areas -- it's been busy.  Every day at work have been swamped.  Can it be just a few weeks ago that I was begging for referrals from my colleagues, and gratefully taking any grunt work off their hands?  Plus, I've been working on an essay that had to be sent in to my prof by midnight tonight - - every night this week typing, reading, researching, editing, rewriting.

I was out of town at a meeting all day -- in the same town as Itty Bitty.  So after the meeting, I picked him up and we went out to do a little shopping and dinner -- it was good to see him.  And even better to see that his residence room wasn't as outrageously appalling as I remember his big brother's being in his college days.

(Still No) Design Wall Monday

I appreciate all the design wall suggestions - had Hubby take a look at them, and hopefully I'll have something fixed up soon.

Surprise!  I got my sewing machine out!  And Gibby remembers what his job is....bite at pieces as they come through the feed dogs.

It's been a freaky weekend in Guelph.  Saturday was the 1st Annual Guelph Zombie Walk.  My mother-in-law was visiting this past weekend, and we were having coffee in the mall, when a blood covered man went lurching past.  What?!?!  Pretty soon a whole parade of raggedy, maimed, blood splattered, undead dragging past us. NEXT! Yesterday protesters took over the Square in front of our apartment to Occupy Guelph.  There's still folks out there in their tents in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Great Guild Night!

I had a good time at the Royal City Quilters' Guild last night!  Dwayne Wanner gave a fantastic talk on inspiration and challenges of quilting.  Take a look at his gallery; the quilts were beautiful.  He was a riveting speaker as well!  Any quilt guild should see if they can schedule Dwayne to come for a visit. 

Dwayne will be teaching at the Greenwood Quiltery here in Guelph.  I see the fall sessions are full, but a late winter session has been added.  Fifteen of his quilts are hanging in the gallery at Greenwood.  I told Hubby we would need to go--he loves art, and these quilts are definitely art!

I officially "joined" the guild last night, and to make my introduction, I decided to Show&Share some quilts that best reflect ME and my 'style'.  Of course I took three quilts that I made of recycled shirts: Postcards from Canada, Seven Shirts, and Shirt-Stripe Boxes.  I met Kathy (THE Kathy of Kathy's Quilts!!!) hehe..sorry Kathy....had to do it! who has used my design for Seven Shirts to teach a workshop.  I was thrilled to finally meet her -- such a small world!

As a new member, I received the cutest little pin cushion! I'll have to post a photo later.

The biggest surprise last night was HUBBY!  He had just left Monday, and here he was BACK!  He plans to spend the WHOLE WEEK with me.  He can stay forever -- he's been taking good care of me.  He had my lunch nearly ready when I got home at noon, and tonight for supper he made a lovely Italian meal.

Our beautiful weather seems to be gone now -- cool temperatures and drippy skies.  Ah, well.  It was nice while it lasted.

I don't have a design wall anymore (sigh)

I guess I'll have to make do with a "design couch". What do other quilters in rental accomodations do for their design walls? I was thinking that a temporary idea would be to double-sided tape an old flannelette sheet up on on of the closet doors. I know there are colapsible design walls that you can purchase, but....uh...I don't know if you know this about me? I'm cheap!


I guess I'll have to make do with a "design couch". What do other quilters in rental accomodations do for their design walls? I was thinking that a temporary idea would be to double-sided tape an old flannelette sheet up on on of the closet doors. I know there are colapsible design walls that you can purchase, but....uh...I don't know if you know this about me? I'm cheap!




While I was surfing around some of my old online haunts, I came upon Judy Laquidara's blog post: Design Wall Monday. And I wanted to get in on it, but alas...no design wall.  However, Design Couch is Gibby certified as an acceptible short-term solution.  Thank you Gibby.

I have no idea how I'm going to put these babies together, now that I'm up to 78!  I'll have to look around the 'net and see if I can find some inspiration.

Just Hangin' Out

Thankfully, Gibby has his naughty bits covered.  The dear old thing has been spending a great deal of time, these past few weeks, working on his predatory skills. He's been doing quite a lot of skulking, creeping, leaping, blitzing, and this morning, launched a full frontal attack, vaulting out from behind the bedroom door, attempting to sink his non-existant talons into my left thigh, and smacking his head off my crotch.  Operation aborted.  He's now on the dining room table, laying on my computer mousing trying to hatch it, I reckon.

Thankful

It's been a beautiful weekend.  Itty Bitty decided university residence long weekends were pretty lonely, so he came and spent the night in Guelph with us last night, and then we headed "home" today to have breakfast with my family, and turkey dinner with Hubby's this afternoon.

It was nice to see everyone, and of course the drive was lovely -- all the autumn colours are blazing!  This is my favourite season.

I had a chance to talk quilts with my S-I-L this afternoon, and that really got me itching to do some sewing.  So when I got back home I started pulling out some old projects.  I spent a bit of time working on a new block for Baltimore Folk Fusion.  Cut some pieces out, and pressed the background fabric.  Starting to lose the light, I switched to Grandmother's Flower Garden. I've run out of ugly vintage fabrics, so I'm having to mix two prints in each blossom.  I'm up to 76 now!