2 More UFO's - El Finito!

Hi There!

Finished this, FINALLY!

I had 2 Christmas tree skirts
and decided to add appliquéd hearts
to the center, to cover up their "holes".

I had finished the 1st one, just before Christmas
and gave it to my Mom, to offer to her friend.

This one dragged on and on and on,
till finally I got FED UP and decided to
FINISH IT... once and FOR ALL!

Had no idea what to call it
until I started working on it's label.

Anyhow, once again....

Pick me with a fork - I'm done!

LOL

Rosa

Yard Sailing, Again!!!!

Hi there!

Yard Sale Season is starting up, again!

Last Saturday, Gilbert and I did the rounds.

Picked up a few (new) gifts for Christmas,
for my niece and nephew and managed to grab these 2 items, also.




As for THIS item, I just couldn't resist it!

Yes, I know it's missing it's cover, but it was
a) a teapot,
b) pink - can't go wrong there! LOL
c) and it will make a FANTASTIC pen/pencil holder, for work!

These items, were approx. 25 cents each, or less....
They were thrown into the box and
the whole lot went for 5 bucks!

Rosa

Funky Chicken's Coming to Life!!

Hi There!

I traced these 2 Funky Chickens from an appliqué book that I owned.

Okay, this is what I was told.

If you're working on a floor mat, you NEED to use "wool". Now, these look like sheets of craft felts, but they're the real McCoy.... and they are very durable and will stand up to the test of time.

If you're making a wall hanging.... well, ANYTHING GOES!

LOL

One of the hookers told me that a group of hookers had made some wallhangings, with all sorts of unconventional things - panty hose, paper bag chips and anything else they could get their hands on! *grin*

So, I decided to pull out my bags of yarn and found some delightful eye-lash yarns and have been having fun intermixing yarn (wool) with eye-lash yarns.



And NO, it's not done but I thought I'd share with you my progress on these fun loving chickens...

Here's a close-up of my chicken's eye and her beak.

That's it, so far.

Having a BLAST with this new medium!

Rosa

Goodbye UFO's!!!! .... aaaaah... maybe....

Hi There!

You're probably all wondering what I've been up to.

Well, this morning, at 7h15 a.m., I went to the gym.

As I told my friend, I think it's best to arrive there early, before you're fully awake.



Once you REALLY wake up and look around, then you can say to yourself,
"What in TARNATION am I DOING HERE.... at THIS HOUR?!??"

LOL

Okay, here's some "news", that's actually become part of our dreams and hopefully will work out.....

Anyhow, life sometimes throws you a curve ball and then again, sometimes opportunities arise and you just have to "Carpe Diem", right?

(For those of you out of the loop,
Carpe Diem means "Seize the Day!"
or "Seize the Opportunity!")

Well, as some of you might know, Gilbert is unemployed and still looking for work. A good friend of mine is selling her Gammill Long Arm quilting machine. She's asked me a couple times if I wanted to buy it and Wednesday, on my way home from the gym, I had a flash!
"Gilbert could do this, as a business!"

Well, after trying to convince Gilbert and then watching all the video demonstrations on the Gammill web site, he finally got "On Board" with the Plan!

So far, so good.

We need to apply to a Small Business Loan and after reading a 26 page document and spending several hours of writing a "Business Plan", I think we're ready to submit our Plan - on Monday morning. Apparently it takes 24 to 48 hours for approval. Keep your fingers crossed!

Here's a picture of what our Baby should look like:
http://www.northwoodsquilting.com/Gammill.html

Now, here's what I'd like for you to do, to help me... if you don't mind.

Would you mind leaving me a comment on suggestions, ideas or hints or what you didn't like about one of your Long Arm experiences?

If you're a Long Arm quilter, do you have a form that you get your clients to sign? If so, would you mind sending me a copy via email?
robich@rogers.com

Any and all comments are much appreciated...
*grin*

Now, to the UFO quilting part of my blog....

I've finished a (round) Christmas table centerpiece and another table centerpiece - this one with 30's fabrics. It's in the washer now and once it's dried, I'll be adding on the label and THEN uploading pictures of both these UFOs.

Can't believe that there MIGHT be a possibility of maybe having a Long Arm machine in MY house!!!!

Goodbye UFO's!!!!!

Rosa

Carnegie Rughookers

Hi There!

Okay, I promise that I'll leave you all alone with the rug hooking stuff..... s'just that I took a couple more pictures that I wanted to share with you all AND I wanted to show you the nice gifty that we all got, for attending this "Hook In"!

The "Hook In" was located in the Saint John Arts Centre, originally the "Saint John Free Public Library". This building was constructed in 1904 with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie.

It was built in the Beaux-Arts style from plans drawn by local architect, G. Ernest Fairweather.

The flooring has tiny little ceramic(?) tiles with lovely patterns, here and there.



Wouldn't this make a LOVELY (appliquéd) quilt corner?!??!

(Let me continue with this building's historical facts...)

The intricate stained glass skylight was designed by Frank Reardon of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1985, after years of being hidden by a dropped ceiling, the window was rediscovered, removed, cleaned and restored to its rightful dramatic setting over the rotunda-style foyer.

The Carnegie Rughookers named themselves after the beautiful Carnegie Building, home of the Saint John Arts Centre, where they meet to hook on Fridays. The mat pattern is based on the centre panel of the stained-glass ceiling above the foyer. This pattern is the first in what is hoped to be an annual series of patterns drawn from the lovely architectural details of the Carnegie Building.

Isn't this the COOLEST?!??!?

It's only about 8 inches square and they even asked us to work on it, during the year. NEXT year, at our annual "Hook In", we're supposed to bring this finished project along and there may even be a contest.

Okay, back to our regular sponsored program.

*VBG*

Have a great week!

Rosa

Hooker Pictures

Hi There!

I took a few hooked rug pictures, last Saturday and I thought that I'd share my favorites, with you.

This is a Maud Lewis design,
by Marsha MacDonald

I just LOVE Maud Lewis and never thought that her art could be done up, as a hooked rug. Lovely, isn't it?!??

I liked this one for it's simplicity yet complicated geometric lines. It made me smile!

*VBG*

And who says I wasn't thinking "quilting", eh?!?!?

I saw this incredible Log Cabin and just HAD to take a picture!

And this one .... well, I just LOVED it!

And guess who made it?

My friend, Karen!

LOVE the colors, Karen!!!!

Rosa

Hook-In Anyone?

Hi There!

Today, I went to my first EVER "Hook In" and had a BLAST!!! Talked about rug hooking with fellow hookers, looked at their rugs and wall hangings and slippers and everything else that involved "hooking" and even got to purchase some wool for my next rug hooking project....

Karen, took a few pictures of me, today.
*grin*



Now, this one, I didn't even realize she had her camera out. LOL

I borrowed her wool cutter and was cutting up my strips, for my next project.

And TA-DAH!!!!!!

Here's my first EVER rug hook project!!!

Actually, its a mini wall hanging but it now has it's binding and...

PICK ME WITH A FORK, I'M DONE!!!

LOL

Another UFO that I can file away!
(don't I look proud?!?!?)
LOL

Will post more pictures about today's outing, tomorrow morning!

For now, I'm heading off to bed!

Rosa

Thanks Brigitte!

Hi there!

Another one of my friends, Brigitte, sent me a "Thank You" gifty.... which I received this week. Brigitte had given me a "Heads Up" about a parcel that she had mailed out.

Brigitte, my friend... I'm the one that is now thanking YOU for this wonderful gifty!

*VBG*

Brigitte does scrap booking and she made this BEAUTIFUL card!



How did I know that SHE made this?

Check out the back of her card!
Incredible, eh?!?!?

Then, because it was for Easter, she included the cutest little Easter book.... All in German!

Pretty neat, eh?

And, of course, a piece of German chocolate, too!

And then, I was floored when I saw her magazine!

Imagine, a sewing magazine.... ALL IN GERMAN?!?!?!

What a wonderful challenge and opportunity to learn another language, eh? Specially since I've bookmarked at least TWO quilty projects that I'd love to do, in this magazine. I'll probably need to do a lot of research on the web for German to English translation and will probably be emailing Brigitte a LOT, for help on some of these words! *grin*

Then, Brigitte had tried to explain to me, via emails on how she does these 3 dimensional spool blocks. I couldn't figure it out without a visual picture. Anyhow, Brigitte kindly sent me a block that she had made. Sooooo, when I start to work on my block quilt, I will probably add HER block amongst the others! *s*

And this was 1 of the highlights of her generous parcel... especially since most of you know that I've started a diet, right?

Those cute little, adorable chocolates are small and pack a taste punch like you would NOT believe!!!!

*VBG*

I've added our Canadian quarter, to the picture - 'bout the same size as an American quarter - so that you can judge the size of the chocolates.

The PERFECT size for when you want to "nibble" on something sweet and not break your calorie bank, for the day!

Unfortunately, there's only 1 chocolate left and it will probably be gone by late this evening. But HEY!!!! On the OTHER hand, I now own the most adorable little tin can that I can use to put quilty notions or treasures in it, right?

Brigitte - Thank you ...
from the bottom of my heart!!!!

Rosa

Quilted Chenille Floor Mat

Hi There!

Have any of you looked at the prices of floor mats, recently?!??! If you want something half decent, you best contact your bank and get a second mortgage out!

Well, about 2 years ago, my friend Barb explained to me how to make these floor mats. At one point, I even went to visit her and she was in the middle of making one. And, this project was on my "To Do" list, but just never came out to the forefront.

Well, Gilbert and I are preparing this BIG yard sale, this summer and I've been culling my fabrics. I came across a big, blue bin that I had saved fabrics to make these floor mats. I had remembered that Barb telling me what kind of fabrics are ideal for these mats and, according to her, it was fabrics like polyester, rayons, cordoroys, denim, tweeds.... in OTHER WORDS, the complete opposite kind of fabrics that a quilter would want or need!

So, this week I started pulling out all my so-called-crappy fabrics and started layering them. You need a denim or a strong kind of fabric underneath your mat, right?

I did 9 layers of fabrics.

Then, you mark, on the bias, at every HALF-INCH and sew, on the bias. This will help your fabrics to "bloom".



Oh yah, I forgot. You need to spray each layer with some kind of temporary spray. I forget what kind Barb told me, but I didn't have any so I just used a LOT of pins!

After you've sewn on all your marked "lines", you need to cut through the layers, but leave the bottom intact - obviously. Upon Barb's advice, I had also added a layer of muslin underneath my other 9 layers.

Okay, since I've re-read this and it doesn't appear to be too clear, here's the step-by-step instructions.

- Cut denim or thick, solid fabric at 24 " X 36 " - that's the size that I selected, anyhow.
- Add, an oversized piece of muslin, on top of the denim.
- Start adding 9 other layers - rayons, polyesters, flannel, etc. These can be in bits and pieces, just make sure that you remember how many layers there are. The last piece, on the top should be 1 solid piece for easier marking and pinning.
- Mark your fabric ON THE BIAS at every HALF INCH APART.
- Turn on TV and watch your favorite movie or plug in your iPod and listen to your favorite tunes. This part is boring, IMHO. Start quilting on these lines.
- With a sharp pair of scissors, cut in the middle of all your sewn lines.
- Flip your mat over and trim your floor mat to the size of your original denim - 24 X 36 size... if that's the size that you selected, for example.
- Add a binding. Now, I added a 2-1/2 inch binding and I had a hell of a time sewing the binding on - I should have cut, I believe, a 3 or 3-1/2 inch binding. Will know better when I work on my next rug.
- Wash and dry (in the dryer) several times... to help your chenille "blossom".

In this picture, I hadn't finished sewing all my lines and I was just too curious! I HAD to see the results!

LOL

Here's just a few lines that I cut between the rows...

And here's the final product - washed twice and dried in the dryer twice... to help it "chenille" or blossom.

Okay.... I'll tell you what I did wrong with this one. No, it's still good, but I went and sewed at 1 inch apart and it's not enough.... Mind you, it's too late now, but it's supposed to be HALF INCH APART.

Now, here's a GREAT site that explains how to make these Chenille Floor Mats, but she uses "woven" fabrics.

Hope you get to give this project a try. I have 2 or 3 more floor mats to make.

BTW, when I haven't been blogging, you KNOW I must be up to something! LOL

In this case, I was working on my first Chenille Floor Mat...

Tomorrow, I'll be at my first ever "Hook In"!!! I'll have yet another UFO to brag about - that's my first ever hook rug project. *grin*

Rosa

Hooker's Night Brought in a Few Pennies!!!!

Hi There!

Yesterday evening, my friend Karen came over, for a "Hooker's Night".... and HEY!! We didn't even make a penny!!! Although, Karen DID bring over her "Penny Mat" that she finished!

Does that count?!??

LOL



This was the first time that she had made one and as far as I know, the first time EVER that she did a (locking) "Blanket Stitch"!

She did an EXCELLENT job, eh?

When we had visited our local Rug Hooking Store, a few weekends ago, the owner had given us a quick demonstration on how to make them and Karen had picked up some "pennies", to give it a whirl.

Here's Karen, in my Sewing Studio, with her hooking supplies. She's got bundles of "wool" in her hands!

Do you see my "Red Heart" in my frame, on the edge of the table?

Anyhow, Karen showed me how to finish my "Red Heart" and she worked on "finishing" her first ever project... which happened to be a "Heart" also!

GMTA (Great Minds Think Alike) !!!!

Here's Karen's hands.... She's whip-stitching her Heart. Some Hooker's call this "Whipping".

With all these special terms and expressions.... kinda makes you think twice about picking up this hobby, eh?

LOL

Anyhow, needless to say, Karen and I had a GREAT time... chit-chatting about this and that and I learned a LOT from my favorite Hooker, too!

I managed to trace yet another project, but this time a bigger one, and I've learned how to finish my first project - my Heart. I'll be working on that one, this week, I hope.

Will post pictures of my finished Heart, ASAP.

Rosa

The Numbers Remained!!!

Hi There!

Well, for those of you following the saga and because I got tied up with another fun project yesterday evening, we didn't get to eat our pizza.

We, instead, had spaghetti with a tomato sauce, and 2 small pieces of garlic bread, which I indicated on "MyFitnessPal" food diary. I had busted the food chart by over 500 plus calories!!!

Anyhow, this morning I got on our bathroom scale, with trepidation, only to find out that I had remained the same!

Can we all give a HUGE sigh of relief and say,

"PHEW!!!!"

together?!?!??!




Well, I just asked Gilbert and apparently, Pizza will be on the menu, for supper.

And tomorrow after work, I'm back at the gym.

So, stay tuned - we'll see what my bathroom scale will say by the end of next week, eh?

Have a great Sunday!

Rosa

And Finally, Box #4...

Hi There!

Well, I hate to choose favorites, but I think this was my favorite box!

Not only did I my friend send me my very first EVER "Jelly Roll", but she sent me TWO Jelly Rolls AND.... a package of "Charms", in this fabric line AND a whole lot of fabric from this line or that matched it PERFECTLY!!!!



Did her generosity stop there?!??

NOPE!

She told me to share, if I wanted to.

So, last weekend, I went to visit a good friend and gave her one of the two Jelly Rolls, along with a piece of coordinating fabrics.

Here's pictures of what I have left over. Incredibly soft colors... I just LOVE this line of fabric for children's quilts. Even the coordinating fabrics are scrumptious - just LOOK at the polka dots ones!!! *grin*

Of course, you can always click on my pictures, to see a closer picture.

Once again, Elaine....

THANK YOU ....
from the bottom of my heart!!!

Rosa
*hoping to do justice with Elaine's gifties, someday soon*

Wait to Weight?

Hi There!

Okay, before any of you start doing the "Snoopy Dance" for me, I need to tell you a couple things, first.

*hangs her head in shame*

I weigh myself every day.

Yah, yah, yah...

I KNOW I'm only supposed to weigh myself once a week but I'm too darn curious!!! And right now, I'm losing weight and I LOVE all these encouraging emails and congrats, but along with the daily weigh measuring, can come some days where the scale doesn't budge or... worse yet, I've gained a pound of two.

I just wanted to give you all a "Heads Up", in case you see a lot of fluctuation. S'just me being too curious and weighing myself every day.



Second of all, Gilbert's bound and determined to take the weekend off and I'm trying to rein(SP?) him in, a bit. He wants to eat pizza tonight. Okay, fine, but do we need to SMOTHER the top of it with a TON of mozarella?!?

Sooooo, after I just wrote my last sentence, I re-read this sentence and thought,
"That's crazy! OF COURSE you need TONS of mozarella!!!"

LOL

Seriously, though, why not do a compromise and add a sprinkling of parmesan instead of mozarella, right?

He said, "No, you need mozarella to HOLD the pizza together!"

What a bunch of crock, right?

LOL

Anyhow, we compromised and he said he would cut back on the cheese toppings...

And this was our Saturday Food Intake discussion.

I mean, I've already decided that I wouldn't be exercising on weekends - at least, not at the gym, right?

Anyhow, we'll see what kind of numbers the scale will spit out tomorrow morning....

'Cause I'm just too damn curious to wait to weigh!

LOL

Rosa

And Box #3's Pictures....

Hi There!

In Box # 3, Elaine added the
sharpest and cutest - IMHO -
scissors that I've ever come across!!!

Elaine had mentioned over the phone,
the things that she was adding in her boxes
but she hadn't mentioned these...
And I was pleasantly surprised,
needless to say!

*grin*



And in Box #3, were the most
gorgeous and softest and most
WONDERFULEST plaids and
woven plaids, that I've ever had
the pleasure to touch!
Now, I can brag that they're MINE!

*VBG*

Remember the 2 Timbleberrie books, that she sent?

They are quite a few quilts in there made with plaid blocks!

Karma?
I think not.
Elaine had everything planned out,
I'm POSITIVE!!!

*long sigh*

I have one more incredible box,
to share with you...

Elaine, I honestly don't know how to thank you...


Rosa

Pumped, Cut and Ripped!!!

Hi there!

As I type this post this evening, I can truly admit to you that even the unknown-to-me muscles in my fingers hurt!

As some of you have realized, I've started a new journey in my life. I want to loose some weight and become fitter and healthier, as I travel upon this journey.

Well, I've lost 5 pounds, so far. Do I expect any "accidents" and ups and downs, on my journey? Well, of course I do! I'll just have to put my big girl panties back on, and deal with it!

LOL

I'm counting calories and "MyFitnessPal" is an EXCELLENT and FREE program - no affiliation with them, either!

And today, I signed up for a month, at a gym right next door to the building where I work. I even convinced my co-worker to join up, too! *grin*



I headed off to the gym (AKA: the Torture Dungeon), with my mauve tote bag, marked "San Luis Obispo" - a gift from a dear friend. When I'm in the Torture Dungeon with my mauve bag, I feel like she's right beside me.

So, here's today's story...

I started out with the stationary bicycle. Things were going really great and I figured that I had biked at LEAST 50 miles - sweat was starting to form on my forehead, even! Then, I looked at my watch.

God ALMIGHTY!!!
Only 2.5 minutes had gone by!!! I was already sweating and bored!

Well, I managed to tough it out on that machine, for 6 minutes and then, my calves started to cramp up - their way of protesting, I imagine. In fact, I suspect a mutiny was brewing!

So, I grabbed my right leg with the help of my 2 arms and swung that leg over the bicycle bar! WOW! I felt like I had accomplished quite the feat! LOL

Thirty Minutes later....

Me: Anne, you ready to go?
Anne: (who was on the bicycle, by then) Yep, give me 2 more minutes.
Me: (trying to stand up) I think Gilbert's gonna have to POUR me into the shower! My legs are all wobbly! I don't even think I can lift my leg up to get INTO the shower!

LOL

Well, I walked out of there, sweaty forehead with wobbly legs and all, and my head held up high! I felt pumped, cut and ripped!!!

So far, I've (clears her throat) "encouraged" a few people to accompany me, on my "Fit Trip". Anyone else care to join me, on my "Fit Trip"?

Okay, I'm outta here....

Rosa

And Behind Box #2

Hi there!

Gorgeous, INCREDIBLY LOVELY 30's fabrics, in Box #2!!!

Now, Elaine had told me that she was sending me another bundle of matching fabrics... Would you believe that I just now remembered about what she had told me, and JUST NOTICED that ALL these fabrics are from the same line and match?!??!

*slaps her forehead*

LOL

Once again, they're almost too gorgeous to cut into to!!!!

And here is the fabric line....

Thanks, Elaine!

I sure do hope that I do you proud, with my future projects!

*VBG*

Rosa