Trying out some advice...

What do you do when you don't know how to do something?

You reach out and ask. So that's what I did today to see if I can figure out how to post from my I pad mini and add a picture. If this works I might be able to blog more! 

Here is the test...

This is our dog Moe. He has had a bad time with allergies this summer. Hoping to have a hard frost so he can go off the meds. 

Jo

Waiting for the perfect.

I realized this morning I am waiting for the perfect.
Perfect day
Perfect time
Perfect supplies
Perfect computer
Perfect machine
Perfect place....

Do you wait for the perfect?

I haven't been blogging because I don't have the right pictures. I have the posts on draft since the summer. But I was putting it off until I could organize my photos. Had trouble with my pic so I got a Mac.
Then it was learning the Mac.... But then I couldn't load the pictures and it is a whole different way to organize the pictures than on my pc.

PC was to go to my hubby. Did the switch over of files .... Then he plugged his mouse in it and the computer went blank.

Return to Mac to find out why I can't upload pictures.

Went to Blogger forum for help. Long complicated or just long ways of finding out what might be happening.  Still haven't managed to make it through the directions.

I have spent the majority of my computer time just trying to figure out what I can't do.... Tagging my photos, looking for photos, and more.

Now I have bought a sit down mid arm. Trying to figure out that... That is not so bad.

New phone.... Or new to me. Still working on it.

Shilouette cutter machine.... Still working on it.

I am tech worn out.

On top of that we are renovating on weekends our house and my mom has cancer.

I thought having grown children would give me more time to do the things I love.

One good thing this week was taking Monday off from work and spend the day with my best friend for our 30th wedding anniversary. Ups or downs this guy has been at my side for over thirty years. He is the best thing in my life!

So this post is dedicated to the guy who is always there.
And here he is the patient man who would even try on costumes for the kids high school plays and have his picture taken...

What is my definition of a UFO/WIP...

Sandy from Quilting For the Rest of Us... quiltingfortherestofus ... asked the question to define for ourselves what a UFO is ... 

Since I have never seen an alien landing even though we are huge Dr. Who and Star Trek fans I know she is talking about my other love - quilting.

For me this is a hard question because I define it as

 1. an unfinished object. An project that I have started and not completed. This means I have actually started it by cutting it out and sewing it.

Recently I got rid of a bunch of projects that I no longer was interested in. I donated them to my guilds cuddle quilt project.

So this cuts down my UFO's

But now that I do art quilting I have a lot more UFO's.

There are the projects that I have started on but stalled on. No deadline so no finish.

I also have the never ending projects. That are my Dear Jane quilt 
and my hexagon hand sewing quilts. 

There are also the quilt tops I have finished but haven't quilted yet because up until now I have been a hand quilter and progress is slow.

Since I sew other projects they move into a UFO category as well because they are not finished.

I also have UFO classes that I have started on line mostly with Craftsy. I plan to finish them.. when I have time.

I do get things down but it is hard to focus at times.

So I guess my definition of UFO is still an unfinished object. But I would have to have categories

Forever Projects
Craft Projects
Quilting Projects
Fibre Art Projects
Class Projects.

It time I became a finisher instead of an alien with a UFO to do list!

All I am seeing is Red!

Red, Red, Red... meters of it. 13 meters of red chiffon... Several meters of red satin.... 35 meters of horse hair braid.

Hours of applying horse hair braid.

All I can say is that I must love my great niece 'cuz I am making her this for her graduation in June.

This is the pattern that the mom and daughter chose. 

I think I will be seeing red for awhile... 

Judy Niemyer

I was invited to join a "Stitch Group". It would be devoted to make Judy Niemyer quilts. I haven't done much paper piecing and thought it would be fun. How big of a commitment could it be?

So I went to Judy's website and checked it out. Until I was asked to join I didn't even know who she was or what she did.
Judy Niemyer www.quiltworx.com

I choose this pattern to work on. It was not so busy  in colour of most of her quilts seemed. And I liked the neutral space.

Little did I realize that this was a companion quilt. That means that it is make with the left over arcs of the quilt below.

So I sent for this pattern.

So far the commitment to time has been a bit more than expected.
One evening pulling fabric from the stash. I found 50 fat quarters or pieces of fabric to use in the quilt. 25 dark and 25 light. The twenty five had to be five different colour-ways.
Then (and still now) my basement is littered with the rejects and boxes that hold the fabric.

Then I had to prepare the fabric to cut. Ironing 50 fat quarters...easy to get done. It was... I like to iron. But wonderful friends dropped in to set up the fountain I bought to Springs ago. My hubby is not to handy in areas that he is not familiar with. It was much easier to set up when I realized that the top of the fountain was actually the bottom! 

Some of the fabric waiting to be ironed. 

Pile of fabric on the ironing board. First I made it damp with water and then I sprayed with Ellens Best Press. 

Once all the fabric was ironed I was done and it was supper time... 

After supper I packed up the required equipment and fabric for the next day.... 

My first day was inspiring. Most of the group was merrily sewing away making their blocks. One lady was doing the sewing by hand.... That is an amazing feat! 

I managed to cut out most of the fabric templates in the first stage. I still have to cut them up  into groups to go into bags to sew into the blogs. 

I will say that Judys method is very methodical. It is hard for a newbie to follow with out help. My help came in the form of reading the pattern about 50 times and watching Judy on you tube. 

I would have had to rely on the group to get me to understand what to do if I did not watch the videos... 

So I will document the progress as I make it. My goal is to get the fabrics all cut out and ready to start sewing next month. I will also have to watch some paper piecing videos along the way. 

Even though I am trying to go into the art quilting/fibre art world more I think that every traditional style quilt will teach me skills as well as beautifying my home. It really was an exercise in colour theory to pull the fabrics. 

I love my new group. So funny and inspirational. Thanks for inviting me! 

Jo

Red and White and Black all over with grey added in .....

I have been working on several projects.

Last year I went to a Guild workshop. I had just joined the Grimsbys Quilt Guild and wanted to meet some of the people.

I had a great time. It was suppose to be a jelly roll race using a technique  and it can be seen on the Jenny Doan Missouri Quilt Co 's You Tube Channel. Missouri Quilt Co

It was a patten based on Jenny's  Pinwheels Technique and changed up by 3 Dudes Quilting from Phoenix Arizona.3 Dudes Quilting  She called the pattern the "Amazing Jelly Roll Pattern."

It is quite easy to do once you get the hang of it. I did my blocks in Red, White and Black.
Definitely not my pallet.  My did not turn out planned and were all randomly stripped.  I was talking to much to follow to much of a plan .

But the colours are growing on me...

However I did make the blocks and finish them. I now have roughly 50 blocks to turn into a quilt.

On there own I find them too busy so I bought some grey in two tones to break up the visual chaos.

I might try to insert the neutrals using a idea from the book Quilting a Circle of Nine by Janet Houts & Jean Ann Wrights book . http://landauerpub.com/Quilting-a-Circle-of-Nine.html




I am not sure how I will tackle it next. But it is on my to do list to finish this Amazing Jelly Roll Quilt.


It will be fun to play

Jo

Check out my Fibre Art Small Group at Fabrigos

I really mean to be a blogger.... honest!

It has been a crazy few months. Crappy weather, fibromyalgia flares, destination wedding, 60th anniversay of my parents. And the worst the diagnosis of cancer in the bladder for my dear Mom.

Mom is a rock. She has gone through alot in her 79 years between being a farm wife, a Mom of three, active Grandma of 8, Great Grandma of 5 +  and volunteer. And that can not even hit a fraction of what she does, who she is, or what she means to us. But I know and that is good enough. We have gone on many life journeys together - laughter, tears, angry - the whole gamete of emotions.

My family on my Christening Day in 1963

So you understand that where I have been is not here... add computer problems (but that is another rant)

I am trying to let go of" have to's "and turn them into "want to's" or not do them. 

I am trying to purposely take down time and relax so my muscles don't seize up. 

I am trying to stay on the happy side and not take on others unhappy.   

I am a saver.... I think I can save the world if only they would let me help. 

Now I want to be a pointer.... pointing them in the direction. 

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink" 

Take notice world...

Play nice in the sandbox! (My favourite new saying.)

And if you have a problem only you can fix it... so take responsibility  - do what you need to do, get professional help but only you can change things. 

So in the next few months I turn my attention to the positives, count my blessings, do what I can for others but take care of me too. 

Enough rant. Cause nobody likes a rant accept our own   Canadian Rick Mercer... mine are not as funny as his. 

So sewing wise I have been working on my son and daughter in laws  wedding quilt. I am making it with my daughter, and my best friend -  my sons "other mom". We work on it together so it comes a bit a time when have time free together... Usually two or three hours on a Saturday.

The pattern is taken from a magazine and I will include the reference later. This is the first two rounds. The idea is the blues and greys get lighter in tones in each round. It seems an easy pattern which it is but we are very focused on the decision of what colours to put into the four patches. 

We decided the back will be more free form with using up left overs to provide another choice of how to have it on the bed. A twofer.... 

My friend is not really a quilter but she helped hand quilt with me the quilt I made for her son and daughter in laws wedding. She has a math degree and is great on figuring out the math. She enjoys the process of planning. And the sewing but she is a busy person with 6 sons and full time job. It is a gift to share time with such a good friend. 

Add in my daughter and we have a great time! 

I am working on many projects and hope to show them in the next few weeks. My plan is to write and plan the posts so I can be more intentional. While working  a day job seems to be in the plans for the near future but I do want to develop all the ideas in my head. 

I am being encouraged to put myself out there and teach a bit. It is something I have wanted to do but have been waiting for the perfect time. Maybe there isn't a perfect time. 

I have been listening Heidi Easley from Texas Art and Soul who is having a series of video casts with different artists who in their medium talk about their story. It is very encouraging. It is a free event and you can sign up through her website. 

That is all for now... thanks for reading. 

If you have any tips on how to stay intentional with your work please comment. 

Jo

It's been a long time baby.... and now I am percolating!

It's been a long time baby....

It really has been a long time when it has come to blogging.
After our wonderful family trip last fall things have gotten terribly hectic and I have lacked the energy to do much...

My never ending computer problems, working 3 days a week and my fibromyalgia have whacked me out. Have you ever just not had the energy to think?

I think I just gave up for awhile.

But it is time to pick up my socks and soldier on.

So what is the plan this year.

Work on some projects that have been sitting around. I have decided that work in progress- WIP or UFO's  make me feel guilty.  No more! They are now pieces that are percolating.  You know the old coffee makers that went on the stove. Sort of like that my pieces are started and put in the maker and need to bubble and boil for awhile till they are done.

There are my own Percolating Projects...

Traditional Quilting Projects

• Dear Jane  Need to take an inventory or what I have made- making the blocks - hand piecing ?/? done
• Grandma's Flower Garden ? Till I get bored with the blocks- making the blocks - hand piecing
• Bible Blocks Queen- making the blocks - machine piecing 7/? done
• Red and White and Black all Over ? until I am happy with the blocks - making the blocks - machine piecing
• Steve and Leah's Wedding Quilt Oversize Queen- making the blocks machine piecing 6/80 done
• William Goes Fishing Lap Size- quilting machine 
• Turtle Party  Queen- basted and waiting
• Go the Twist Right - finished top. Next layer and baste
• Go the Twist Wrong - finished the top. Next layer and baste
• Quilt block challenge Twin - Hand Quilting
• Quilt block challenge small - Need to layer and baste. 
• Spiral Table Runner. Cut out strips. 

None of these projects are pressing so I fit them in as I have time.

  AND 

Fibre Art in Progress

• "Circles Squared"
• "Forrest Fire" 
• "Life on the Farm" 
• " Red and White and Black all Over" 

AND

Fabrigos 

• Al's Challenge - Concrete and Grass Lands 
• Clothing Challenge
• Aids Awareness Block  

AND

Misc Sewing

• Bears for Babys
• Book cover for Art Journal for Fabrigos
• Book cover for Art Journal for my own projects
• Some clothing projects to be rediscovered in the abyss of the sewing room. 

AND

then there is my photo projects

• History of my family... currently scanning photos with my mom so we can get the stories down. 
• History of my husbands family
• Making on line photo books out of my pictures. All the ones I took in Europe last fall and backwards
• Finishing the scrap books I started... 
• Scan the other family history
• Develop my photo shop skills and
• Develop my camera taking skills. 

Sound like a tall order...

Then there is the home repair projects

• Re do the main floor by Christmas 2012
• Go through each room and re evaluate what is in it and organize. 

I need baby steps... not look at the grand picture so much but move forward and work on it a bit by bit.

I plan to put  a progress page on each of the above. Just to give accountability to myself.

A dull post but it is down in writing. so here goes to 2015 and beyond.

Cheers

Jo

Not an exciting post ... no pictures

Is vacation a rest?

Going on vacation seems like a good idea. And it is. This summer past was filled with work and family and planning a trip of a life time.
Now that we are on it the trip is inspiring ,tiring and invigorating.
Week 1 was with our whole family in Holland.
Now we are in Paris. It is early morning. The cars are rushing by. We have a B and B  a half of a km from the Louve. Last night the cafés were teeming with life. People laughing, talking,eating and having a glass of wine.
Today an adventure in Paris... 

Summer is coming to fast...

It has been busy in the household.
In the past month my daughter graduated with her MLS, we have been to the cottage and worked and played. I am still working 3 days a week. (Not much for some but for me it is more than I thought I would ever be able to work.)
The sewing room is still recovering from a month of blogging about Lutradur.
I visited Quilt Canada but did not take pictures because in some places it was not allowed.
And the only pictures I have been taking have been of family and friends and I don't want to share those without their permission.
So what to do?
I will share my dog... poor Moe. He is such a easy mark.
Here is Canada Day...
or my Canadog.

Moe is a great sport. 

What is up this week. 

Some hand quilting on a quilt our church is making for our local sponsored nursing home for when someone passes it will be used to cover the resident as they leave. 

The day of the "dying" The Fabrigos are coming to play with mx dyes, sunprinting and colourvie. 

Kayaking maybe or a concert in the park with my hubby. 

Sewing lesson day with my great nieces... first project pj pants. 

What are you up to this week? 

Jo

Quilt Canada and why am I a quilter....

It is a wonderful opportunity to go to Quilt Canada today. 

If you have never been to the Niagara Area it truly is a beautiful spot to visit. Of course there is Niagara Falls always a wonder but we have a micro climate that allows for the growing of grapes and tender fruit. So we have lots of wineries to visit. Strawberries are in season now and coming fresh from the field.

There is a world class theaters in Shaw in Niagara on the Lake, Forts that reenact like Fort George and Fort Erie. The Welland Canal  from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Sometimes I forget what a wonderful place I get to live in.

Sometimes I forget what blessings I have. This week friends lost their 18 year old son to an accident. How to walk along side them? I guess it is just to be there. The Dad said last night ... I think I will just need a lot of hugs... I can do that. The mom said she would like to hear the stories I remember about their son. I can do that.

Quilters know about how to give. I enjoy my guilds because of their generosity towards others. Their love and kindness.

So off I go to get refreshed. To spend the day laughing and seeing wondrous things. This will help fill my cup so I can just be and help my friends walk the journey that all parents fear.

Jo

What a month....

It has been quite a month. Blogging over at andthenwesetitonfire.blogspot.ca on as you know ...all things Lutradur.

I now have a great selection of things to work on and found a new love.... burning... or should I say melting.

Plus I learned more about using so many things that it will translate into my work. 

One thing I have learned this month is preparation. I am  a last minute girl. This has been a hectic week and a half finishing up all I wanted to blog about on and then we set it on fire. 

My husband has even been checking out the posts. 

I am going to continue to blog about Lutradur... how I finished all those lovely pieces I posted and more that I never got to. 

I hope you check out the blog. It is a great one. 

And leave a comment so you can win a copy of Leslie Riley book on Lutradur or a package of goodies of all things Lutradur. There is time until May 31 to leave a comment. 

So that is what I have been up too. But of course I couldn't have done it without my friends Elle, Robynne, Al, Karen, Judy and Gunnel Hag and of course Leslie Riley being game to answer questions for me. 

That's it for this Wednesday

Jo

Information overload... bring it on

I have been so busy over at andthenwesetitonfire blogging that I haven't made it here to much. 

But I think through blogging regularly this month I have confirmed that I just love to learn and create. I also like to share. Writing does not come easily for me so I will have to learn to write less and give more pictures. 

My hubby is the greatest. He has been so patient with me and the commitments and other things that interrupt our lives. 

His greatest thing is to read and to listen to Great Courses. thegreatcourses.com
these are cd's or dvds that are actually like university coursed taught by professors. \

I listen to some but others I will never watch. Like the physics or math is fun ones. 

I do have a photography one that is next on my list to do. 

But then my wonderful hubby let me buy all the Colourlicious DVDs colouricious.com

Not only did I get 

but I got these too! 

Now I can experiment away! Plenty of fodder for the blog. 

So in June I hope you follow me down the path of Sun Printing over on the andthenwesetitonfire blog

And some finishing!!!! of projects!!!! 

Off on an adventure of play.

Jo