Sunday, April 27, 2014

Loose Ends...All Tied Up! & Rugs & Quilt

 I've been trying to get my loose ends all tied up, since the snow has finally disappeared & spring has arrived.  The task of making roman shades to keep the very hot, very direct sun of summer out of the house. With blinds in place the central air will not have to work as hard & hopefully the bills will be lower too!

The fabric that I used, I've had for years but now it has a purpose! I sewed for days to make a roman shade for the office(Maple Leaf Plaid), the kitchen oval window (black/white toile), the hoop window at base of the back staircase(same black/white toile as the kitchen)& the back, side steel door window (black/white check).

 I just love this toile, it has a cream background & the scenes of country life.
 With all the blinds sewing done, all I have to do is wait for Bill to get home to help me install them!

 
  With this tennis elbow I've no strength for installing the eye screws to the wood, & I don't use the chop saw, needed to cut the wood down to fit the blind. Handsome & handy is my husband!



 He also stapled the blinds to the wood & made comment on 'how he enjoys us working together on projects', I'd be lost without him!

I bought a spool of the string, I use to buy it by the meter & then it was such a mess to untangle & it was really just a guesstimate to know how much one would use on any blind. With the regular cost of .25 cents a meter,  I purchased a spool at Fabricland last month, during their 50% of sale, bonus!

 The tape sewn on the back is so much easier than sewing on the rings. I was first introduced to the tape from my girlfriend Nicola, in England back in 2003 & have used it ever since. There is also a line in the tape to put a small dowel inside to help the blind hold its shape. Really quite clever, just three lines of sewing per tape & your done!


 Here's the hoop window at the base of the back staircase, this large beauty really brings in the mid-morning sun. The wall is going to be painted a very soft shade of grey...it's on my round to it list. Mitchell & I painted it in this heritage paint colour in 2003.

 The office overlooks the Thames River & a park, so I wanted a clear view out. With the shade pulled up that is now possible.

 And with the shade down, the Maple Leaf fabric can be enjoyed. This fabric was designed to celebrate Canada's Centennial year in 1967.

 As Bill pulls the string through the shade...he has help from Tommy, our cat.
 Bill pulls & Tommy helps. lol Tommy's 15 years old & still likes to play.
 They really were fun to watch, so I just had to get a few pictures in.

 Here's a view of the string put through the shades, then through the top screw rings.


 I painted this oval window trim before the shade installation.

 Here it is fully down & can this window ever bring in the morning sun! For years I've used a tension rod & a cafe curtain to block the summer sun.

 Now with the blind fully up after the morning sun, there's no drapery hanging down onto the counter top.

My job now is to braid the string & install rings for each section of tape that has been sewn on. I use O rings & a screw or cleat to hold it in position, for the pleat height wanted. Lots of braiding to do this week. lol


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 I was surprised last Thursday evening at our monthly 'Sew What's' get together, when Lou, a fellow quilter gave me these little gems for the cottage. It's a wee bell pull and several coasters...from Cheticamp! A place that I will visit one of these years, all the rug hookers speak of it! many have been there too!


 These little coasters looked so good when I placed them together, that I'm going to make them a hot plate holder. With just using a whip-stitch to hold them all together.

 This vintage hooked rug was given to me by my fellow quilter girlfreind, Cynthia  last month! This is the front side of it, it's in need of some repair. I plan on doing that at the cottage this summer.

This is the backside of the rug, you can see that this rug has had a lot of use but I plan on bringing it back to life by repairing the edge with a whip-stitch over nylon rope & some Briggs & Little grey wool & some new rug binding. My girlfriends have been so thoughtful to think of me & the cottage with these vintage pieces... Maybe one day they will come out to visit me. ;-)

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Mitchell's Quilt is back from the longarm quilter & I've put the binding on! Another loose end all tied up!


 I love the black maple leaf pattern on this quilt. Oh Canada! This one is Alberta bound!

 The quilt pattern stopped at the block repeat...I added a black sashing & more blocks & animal wildlife borders.

 It will be a house warming gift for Mitchell's new home in Elnora Alberta.

Here's a close up of the maple leaves peaking out of the creme fabric. I'm so pleased with this quilt  & enjoyed sewing the binding on. A big hug & thank you!  to you  Liz, for doing such a wonderful job on the quilting!


Well, thank you for stopping by & I hope you enjoyed your visit of my much productive week. My health is returning & it sure feels good to be able to do things again!
Have a great week everyone! Health & happiness to all. :-)

Monday, April 21, 2014

Wonderful Family Easter

Alice, this picture is for you! We missed not having our 'Aunt Alice' with us this Easter. Alice had every intention of joining us on Easter but she was ill the night before her travel day of 8 hours on the train & stayed home to get much needed rest. You were spoke of fondly & it was great talking to you on the phone but you were much missed by all of us here in Ontario.

 I came across these handmade pottery knife holders in Quebec City back in 2006 when I did my Trois Pistol summer schooling. I was going to learn French that year & I did learn much talking & writing in French, however it is true, the rule, of 'use it...or loss it!' I now have the memory of much fun as a student that summer & my knife holders. lol

 Nicholas surprised Bill & his mom Eva with a belated birthday cake...Oh and Happy Easter! to the rest of us! Cousin Ann enjoyed a slice of that cake! Ice Cream, oh the taste of summer! Bring it on!! We finally! had such a beautiful day here in Southwestern Ontario.


 My in-laws, Eva & John rejoiced in the day too.

 Bill & Eva with their Dairy Queen, birthday, ice cream cake. I love ice cream & grew up with a Dairy Queen in our neighbourhood, which I frequented often! It's now a Tim Horton's coffee shop but my happy, ice cream memories remain. Yummy!

 Nicholas made sure to dodge all my camera shots...but his presence is here! He helped clear the table & in the confusion of everyone leaving I never noticed this till everyone was gone! You see Nick likes to see things orderly, lined up & together. When he shared his bedroom with his brother Mitchell, there were a lot of disagreement to how their room should be. Nick threw all of Mitch's thing out of the bedroom one day to make his point. Maybe not a good idea putting those two together but rooms were short back in the day! lol Bill & I still laugh when we reminisce when the boys were little & how different they were then...and now.

 My girlfriend Paulette gave me very colourful fat quarters for Christmas one year & I made this Art To Heart tablerunner from it. Oh so joyful on this spring day to see such colour.


Eva always brings chocolate, yum! I hold on to it as long as I can without eating it. It lasted till fall last year, I finally needed a chocolate fix.  I broken the rabbit into pieces & put it into silicone cupcake cups, to coat just the bottom, silicone will not stick, you just wait till it cools into the round shape & pop it out!  I melted down the dark chocolate rabbit & added whole almonds to the melted mixture, oh my goodness was it good. Elizabeth & I enjoyed what I called 'homemade almond bark'. Yummy chocolate, I just love dark cocoa chocolate! Yum. And it is said that it's good for you too! lol yes I know moderation is the key but when you want chocolate...have a friend to share it with!


Well with Easter now over, enjoy spring, it's a season of new hope as we watch Mother Earth come back to life with all her budding & flowering as the ground begins thaw & come to life again. Lush greens on the lawns will return to enjoy & enjoy them as the weather to come this summer in southwestern Ontario, is predicted to be above summer temperatures. After this winter...bring it on!
And remember the hottest day on the coldest night next winter.

I hope everyone had a joyous Easter with your family. Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Annie Dress & Easter Decorations

 I've finally discovered what the white streaks were in the sky...the X marks the spot to where the jet streams from the planes have made. It was an awe moment for me that morning! lol



 Tommy, the 15 yr old cat, has been enjoying the warm weather these days.
 Look at how white his chin is, he's looking up at birds chirping in the trees. He has only one working eye but his ears are still keen. Look up...look way up & I'll call Rusty! You have to be a certain age to remember the Friendly Giant!

 Squirrel too is enjoying being out these days too & his fur is no longer white like the winter snow!

 He sure has ate a lot of nuts this winter. It was his 10th birthday on April 4th, I think it's safe to say he's the oldest squirrel in the neighbourhood!


I've been spending time twice a week at Ealing Public School for the past month, helping children read, then I found out that their doing an Annie play next month! Well I expressed how much I enjoyed Annie & in 1983 I made the 3ft doll & dog for my daughter & every outfit I made her stuffed Annie doll I made the same outfit for her! I was then asked if I could help out & make a Annie dress for the play.


 You have to love Annie!

 Here's the dress, ready to hand hem.

Here it is hemmed & it just needs a good pressing with the iron.
This time making the dress I lined the skirt, with lining & tulleing  to give it more body.
 Such a sweet little grade 4 girl is going to play Annie. I hope she likes her new dress!

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This Good Friday family is arriving in London, to celebrate the Easter weekend.

I just love rabbits, so here are a few that I've brought out to decorate with!


 I purchased this one years ago at Eatons Department Store, in The Wellington Square Mall, I still miss that store!

 Here's the Mr. & Mrs. Rabbit, so sweet.

 Vintage Avon chicks & a snow globe, a wee rabbit tea set with cart are displayed on the tea cart.

 A rabbit holding a tree full of Easter chicks & eggs

 Rabbits, rabbits, did I mention how much I love rabbits!

 Here a rabbit...
 There a rabbit...
 A stained glass rabbit I made years ago & a babushka rabbit egg!
 Everywhere a rabbit! lol   Happy Easter Rabbits!
 Even Lucy the Goose is in her 'rabbit' costume!

 Rabbits on the front door wreath too!

I've to make a trip to the Dollar Store to find a costume for Boris, for my next post!
He's going to make a adorable rabbit!

Have a great week leading up to this Easter Weekend!