Another try

I'll try again......  I got the pictures uploaded successfully...next time I'll figure out how to put the text where I want it to be!

OOOPPPS

Dang...it has been so long since I have been on this blogger site that I accidently posted before I added the pictures and I can't for the life of me remember how to do that.  Please be patient as I work through some technical issues (well, okay, more like operator issues!)

Working on a Lonestar

One the best things that has happened to me on my journey to becoming a quilter was the invitation by a former colleague to join a group of ladies who meet twice a month and make "comfort quilts" which are given to anyone who is in need of comforting.  I have met some of the nicest ladies in this group and I am constantly learning new things from these very experienced quilters.  I look forward to my Tuesday Piecemakers group more than I can say.  As a side benefit, occasionally one of the ladies will take the time to show us how to accomplish a' new to us' technique.  This month we are learning how to make a Lonestar (or sometimes called Radiant Star) quilt.  I've sharing a couple pictures of the diamonds for mine which are completed on schedule.  Next week I'll learn how to do the background and borders.  I'm excited to see the finished product.  What do you think so far?

Took a LONG Break

Three years ago I started learning to quilt and at around the same time I ventured into the land of blogs. Then life happened and I completely lost interest in keeping a blog. I have managed to continue to quilt and it had been one of the things that has kept me sane(ish). I have also lurked about on various other quilter's blogs, rarely making a comment but always learning something that I needed to know. I feel like I have a whole world of friends out there. Only thing is, they don't know me. So I think I am ready to re-enter the Land of Blogs and will try my hand at it again, for no purpose other than it will be a reasonably regular record of what is going on in my world. And maybe if I start leaving comments, others will come to visit me and we will actually become cyber world friends. Looking forward to getting to know you!

Coming Along Nicely

It has been fairly rainy here for the past few days and while I am solar powered (I think I was a Polynesian in a previous lifetime!) and I do find my energy and enthusiasm somewhat diminshed when the cloud cover lasts too long, rainy days do make great sewing days. And the quilt I am making for my daughter's best friend is coming along nicely. I think I will call it "Comfort from Home" when I make the label and mail it to her. I am such a newbie quilter that after each bit is sewn together I take it out of the machine to examine it closely and see how well my seams match. When they do I let out a little cheer and marvel at the whole process. When they don't, out comes the seam ripper and I try to make some improvements until I get them close enough to satisfy myself. I wouldn't want any quilt judges looking too carefully but I sure get a pleasant feeling of accomplishment as the project moves along. Tomorrow, if the sun shines, we are going to take a little road trip so I won't be doing much sewing. Now I know where my grandparents got the saying "make hay while the sun shines!"

These are the stripes for "Comfort From Home". Each stripe is a total of six 6" blocks. The stripes aren't sewn together yet and are just laid out on my bed but I think it is coming along nicely. What do you think?

Stripes and More Stripes

Piles and piles of stripes--first you sew them together, then you cut them apart and then you sew them together again. What a crazy activity but it sure is fun!
Teeny's tractor
Teeny's truck
A bare glimpse of Teeny's junkyard--it went on for rows and rows
Along the road we stopped at this old farmyard-the history this house could tell!
A view of the North Saskatchewan River which runs north of Saskatoon and joins with the South Saskatchewan Riiver about 100 miles north of this location
The days seem to go by awfully quickly but for the most part they are full and satisfying. This past weekend my husband and I went on a couple of day trips around our city. We love to hop in the car with our cameras and head out into the countryside with no particular destination in mind. On Saturday we followed a route on the west side of the North Saskatchewan river and while exploring we came upon a historic settlement from the early days of our province. The people who settled this site had been driven from Russia as a result of religious persecution and, with the financial help of Leo Tolstoy, they travelled to Saskatchewan and built a new life. This particular site showed several of the dugout homes they lived in when they first came to Canada. It was incredible to see these little 'caves' and believe that entire families lived there through the brutal Saskatchewan winter. Unfortunately for us, pictures weren't allowed. They did, however, tempt us with fresh bread and tarts to sample! Yummy! On Sunday we went a totally different direction, following the South Saskatchewan River and we came upon a lovely town of about 350 people. This town was home to a HUGE old vehicle graveyard. While we were busy taking pictures of some of the relics, the owner, "Teeny Zimmer", came and asked us to come up to the shed when we were done. He had something to show us! And boy, did he ever! He had his own personal historic museum complete with a restored truck and tractor, as well as hundreds of license plates and oodles of other treasures. Best of all, he was a natural born story teller! What a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Although I doubt that Teeny reads blogs "Thanks" just the same.
Anyway, what else have I been up to. Let's see...on Monday I cried my entire way through the movie version of "My Sister's Keep". My daughter and I spent a lovely couple of hours at the movie theatre and we weren't disappointed Although, having read the book, I must admit I was surprised by the movie ending. Today my husband and I went out for a delicious supper to celebrate. What were we celebrating? We were celebrating life! Three years ago today I suffered a cardiac arrest and was placed on life support. My husband and daughter were not given much hope for my survival. But thanks to God, great doctors and a lot of prayers I am here to tell about it. And I try to remember to offer thanks each and every day.
As far as quilting goes, Colonel's Stripes is coming along, slowly but surely as evidenced by the accompanying pictures. (which are in no particular order because I haven't quite the knack of that process yeT!)

A New Project

This is my own little creating corner of the world (formerly known as my daughter's bedroom. There are some advantages to the empty nest!)

It has been another beautiful day here in sunny Saskatoon. I wonder if it was humid enough to cook up an exciting thunderstorm for tonight? We shall see...

Yesterday my husband and I spent a quiet Canada Day appreciating the many great things about our country. I took some time to browse through some quilting magazines, plotting and planning the next project. We went out for Chinese food for supper with my mother-in-law, who is affectionately known as Mama C. She has recently moved into a seniors' apartment and, as one of the youngest residents, at 70, she loves to regale us with stories about the 'old folks' in the building. Today I woke up bright and early to the sound of the robins chirping outside our window. What a happy sound! I finally made a decision about the next project I want to tackle..another quilt. This will be number 2 for me! My initial plan is to make it for my daughter's friend who has moved 18 hours away from home. Stephie is a tomboy with a little bit of girl thrown into the mix. Her favorite colors are pink and brown. So I was searching for a pattern that was not too 'fussy' and not too 'girlie' and was (hopefully) within my skill range. In the February, 2009 issue of Quilter's World I found a pattern for "Corporal's Stripes". Although it is designed for a man I think with some softer colors and a bit of a soft feminine swirl in some of the fabrics it could be just right for Stephie. However, depending on how it turns out I may keep it for myself.

This is the pattern I have selected for Stephie's quilt along with the three fabrics. They don't show up very clearly but are actually quite nice--soft, and 'girlie' without being too fussy.

And this, dear friends, is a picture of the 'blue thingies' that I made for Emma a couple of weeks ago. She wore them, along with the little blue skirt and more make-up than one girl should wear, to a dance party she went to. They were apparently quite a hit with all of the girls.