Hello Mr. Bach Payne...

 Hi There!

A couple pictures that Gilbert took, this afternoon. Pretty yet cold!

In 4 days, we're supposed to get a major dumping of White Crap.

As I gaze into my crystal ball, I see Mr. Bach Payne will be paying us a visit... unfortunately...

Pretty, yet very, very cold!

I'm guessing that I will be giving myself a couple "Snow Days" ....

AKA Perfect Days for Quilting.

Rosa

New Heading PIcture!

Hi There!

My FaceBook friend and artist, Rebecca Trembula, was looking for volunteers for her 15 minute(?) sketch practice.  I sent her a picture of Zelda.  She asked me a few questions.  I told her that Zelda was afraid of people, the big, bad garbage truck and thunder and lightning.

And....  I was SOOOOO pleased!  

She quickly sketched this piece!

LOVE IT!!!!

We're snowed in.  Actually, there's 2 inches of snow on the ground and I'm calling it a "Snow Day" for me and "had" planned on staying in, all day.... till I remembered that I had an errand this afternoon.  

Oh well...

Hope you're all having a SUPER day!

Rosa

"Life" Got in the Way....

Hi There!

What happened to my schedule?  

Well, "life" happened... that's what happened.

*grin*

Got up, went and got our weekend morning Tim Hortons coffee and while sipping it, fixed and updated some of our web pages on "The 3A Quilting" Web page.  

Had laundry going, too... I might add.

Went downstairs and did some dishes - not all but most of them.

Did NOT do any time in "Rosa's Studio".  

Did not come NEAR a needle 'n thread, today.

Did however walk the dogs.

Took Zelda to her favorite dog store where she was very well behaved, for SANTA!!!!  Okay, there were a few hiccups, but we managed to get her picture with Santa!!!

After, called my cousin Nancy and we met up at the doggy park.  

Unfortunately, the fence was closed to the public.  

Why did they do that!??!?

Came back home and Nancy and I had a great visit around my kitchen table while her Husky played with Zelda and Bandit.

All in all, it was another SUPER day!

Tomorrow?

Finish those darn dishes.

Work on those pillow cases.

Nancy comes over in the P.M. and we're gonna work on HER 2 sets of pillow cases!

Should be fun!

Later gators!

Rosa

The Same But Different...

Hi There!

Last month, Mom and Dad moved from their home in the country into a high-rise apartment, in the city.  Now, being seniors and having to move is bad enough, I would think, right?

And, keep in mind that they, and "Bandit", their black Labrador (senior) dog, were living in a fairly big home with LOTS of land and tons of "stuff"!

They put their home on the market and really didn't expect to sell it that quickly.... if at all!

It sold quickly.

On top of all these factors, Dad is battling lung cancer.  He's hanging in there but some days are harder than others.  :-(

So, Bandit wasn't allowed to move with them in this high-rise apartment... unfortunately.

Lucky for us (and Bandit), we were looking for a special dog to help Zelda with her confidence issues and someone to play with.  A people friendly dog that didn't bark when peeps came to the door.

Bandit fit the bill PERFECTLY!

Soooo, I'm still playing in my Quilting Studio but I now have Zelda and Bandit to keep me company.

As I'm actively looking for work, I even have an interview or two lined up for the week of the 16th of December.  I'm guessing that the people will probably be hiring in January 2014.  Dunno.

I get up every morning and thank God that I made it through the night and I have, hopefully, yet another day to be joyful and grateful.

Each day is the same yet each day is different.

This afternoon, one of our local pet stores had a special guest....

Santa Claus!!!

I took Bandit for a car trip and he got to meet Santa!!!

What a sensory overload for Bandit!  He hadn't been in the car in almost a month AND he got to smell all the different smells in his favorite store AND he got to meet some cats and dogs while waiting to meet Santa!

On tomorrow's agenda?

In the morning:
Dishes
Decorate the house, for Christmas
Laundry
Hopefully sew some pillowcases, for Christmas.

In the afternoon:
Take the dogs for a walk.
Take Zelda to meet Santa, too.  THAT should be interesting as she's TERRIFIED of people!

Hopefully sew some more pillowcases, for Christmas.

Yes, basically every day is the same but each day is different!

:-)

Rosa

Bernie Meet the Peeps...

Peeps...  Meet Bernie, my new-to-me 

Bernina 200E embroidery sewing machine!

My friend, Frummie, gifted it to me.

Can you tell how appreciative?!?!?!?

 

 Bernie's hoops joined my collection of hand embroidered hoops.  

They've all been advised (read: WARNED) 

that the best play nicely together!  *s*

 

Today, "Bro", my Brother Innov-is NX-400

will be put aside, for now

and "Bernie" will take his place...

on my sewing table.

Hope you all have a super day!

Rosa

Out With the Old and In With the New!

 Hi There!

I finally finished this (rug) hooked piece!

I wrote on the back and added a sleeve.

I just LOVE rug hooking!

But I also love quilting, hand piecing blocks, appliqueing, embroidery.... 

a lot of other crafts!

Yesterday evening, I started embroidering this piece.

Its done on a tea towel therefore,

 I have to be careful that the 

"back" of my work is as nice as the "front".

Nice little challenge!

*s*

Will show progress pictures, as I move along.

Have a Fantastic Friday!!!

Rosa

Today's Tip...

Hi There!

As I was working on a sleeve, I thought I'd share with you how I've been making these, lately.  Did I mention how I HATE to makes sleeves?!?!??

For those of you that sometimes use bed sheets for the backs of your quilts. You know that useless fold, at the top of your sheet that you cut off? Lately, I've been saving them and using them to make sleeves for hung quilts. 

Works with old bed sheets you're gonna throw out or cut up as rags. Just cut right below that top part, save and cut your sleeves to the required length.

Slip a dowel or thin piece of wood in it 

and you're all set to hang it up!

Hope this tip helps you...

Rosa

Look Waaaaay Up!

Finished the binding on this one.

On Today's Agenda

Binding on this cutie...  Gilbert did freehand feathers on this one.  Love 'em!!!

Log Cabin Progress

Acorns are finally all appliqued!  Need to sew the 3 strips together and add a few special borders, to make this one a BIG Queen size quilt.

Acorns and Leaves...

Working on a log cabin quilt that was commissioned, for Christmas.

Gettin' there...

Another Binding's Done

Finished a quilty friend's binding, this afternoon.  Both sides were done on my sewing machine.

Pillow Case #3 - Finished!

The "blue" is more like the color teal.

My cousin asked me to make her 4 sets of pillow cases.

Cutting fabric for her 4th and final set, this morning.

Fall Is In the Air.

Follow Me...

Hi There!

September's here but where did the summer go?!??

Saturday morning, Gilbert and I decided to go to yard sales.  Just outside of Saint John, 2 hamlets called Red Head and Mispec, were having a Community Yard Sale.

We hadn't been there in over 13 years,
so we decided to jump in the car and head on out!

At the very end of this "peninsula", is a lighthouse with a very pictoresque view of the Bay of Fundy.

Gilbert, overlooking the Bay...

A "dark" picture of the shoreline.

And a "lighter" picture of the shoreline.  

Don't ask me why my iTouch did this.  

*scratching her head*

And, a picture of the lighthouse!

I've started "hooking" again.  

Gosh, but I love hooking.  

Almost equally as much as quilting.

But I can create quilt tops faster than I can make a hooked rug.

Anyhow, my recent rug is of a SnowMan.  

I had seen this in one of my pattern books and

 had promised myself that I would make it... someday.

"Someday" is now here.

Saturday afternoon, I was able to sit outside on our deck. 
It wasn't sweltering hot but nice enough for me. 
Worked on my "hooking" as  Gilbert puttered around the yard.

And here's a close-up of my progress.

Then, yesterday,
I decided to make a batch of my Mom's "Uncle Ben Oven Rice".

Its the kind of recipe that makes a big roaster filled of yummy rice. Great to bring to a family get together, a potluck or to make at home. AND, the rice freezes very well.  Great to separate into lunch portions and freeze, for later!

Recipe for Uncle Ben's Oven Rice.

You absolutely NEED this rice. 

I've tried it with other brands of rice and it didn't work.

A close-up of the package.

This morning, my friend Elly, at Mad4patchwork, wrote to me 

and asked that I put on my blog, a "Follow by Email" option.

When I asked her how to do it, 

she wrote back with these instructions:

Go to your blog

Click design (top right corner)

Then click 'layout'

In layout click 'add a gadget'

From the list that comes up click  'follow by email'

Click save

et voila! :)

Turns out, I already HAD this option on my blog 

but you have to scroll waaaaaay at the bottom of my page to see it.

  I'll be moving to the top right hand side.... 

as soon as I finish publishing this post.

Anyhow, Elly gave me permission to copy her instructions - 

in case some of you might like to add this option on your blog.

Elly, I just went to your blog site 

and did you realize it's been 5 months 

since you last posted, girlfriend?!?!?

*grin*

And, this "following" topic reminded me of 

one of my favorite songs by Uncle Kracker....  

"Follow Me".

Here's hoping you have a Super September!!!

Rosa

Blue Hawaii

Hi there!

This Wednesday, I took the time to finish off the binding on my "Blue Hawaii".  Its an oversized Lap Quilt that I've started calling "Couch Quilts".   A lap quilt is nice to decorate a couch, in my opinion, but usually isn't big enough to cuddle underneath. 

Hmmmm.... 

Maybe I should be calling these "Cuddle Quilts", eh?

Here it is.  I used jelly roll strips - most of them were won at my Guild.  

I also tried to use up my leftover "blue and yellow striped" fabrics.

Would you believe that I still have quite a bit of this blue and yellow fabric left over?!??!

That's it, for now.

Its a beautiful, sunny Friday morning and

I'm headed uptown, to join a group of "Hookers".

"Rug Hookers", that is.

*grin*

Have a Fantastic Friday!

Rosa

Hexagon #4 - Tout Finis!

 Hi There!

Still enjoying these cute 6 inch (across) hexagons!

I had a bit of a challenge with finding the correct sizes for Hexagon #3. Finally figured it out and had hoped to work on it, yesterday evening, but I was plum tired!  Had trouble keeping my eyes open to watch TV, even!

Anyhow, here's Hexagon #4, 

in Linda Franz's new Inklingo collection, 

300 Pieced Hexagons.

And here's my 3 cuties,

on my design wall!

What's on my agenda, today?

I'll be working on finishing Bonnie Hunter's latest Mystery Quilt, called "Lazy Sunday".

Will post pictures, in a bit....

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Rosa

Hexagons #1 and #2.... Re-Visited

 Hi There!

I've been bitten by the Inklingo bug!

And, the bite was rather severe....

At this point in time,

it has to do with Linda Franz's

300 + Hexagon designs!

Incredibly Jaw Dropping,

that's truly very easy

the Inklingo way!

Well, if you remember, I had started making these hexagons with a dark navy background and Gilbert mentioned that it looked like Halloween blocks.

Soooo, I took the first 2 apart and now can show you the completed ironed cutey...

Hexagon #1

Hexagon #2

I've got my third one finished but not ironed, yet. I just finished it this morning.  

I'll upload its picture, in a few days.

Linda Franz, the genius behind Inklingo, also has a blog, that is also very informative and always has lots of eye candy!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Rosa

Hexagon #2 - Let's Sew With Inklingo!

 Hi There!

Important Inklingo links:

Inklingo's Home Page

How Inklingo Works

Inklingo's Quick Start Guide

300 Pieced Hexagons

Note: When you place your Inklingo order, please advise Linda Franz that Rosa Robichaud recommended you.  I would appreciate that.  

*s*

Onto Hexagon #2, with Inklingo!

The 1st hex was easy and.... 

well, let's admit it, kinda boring.

But wait till you see them all, close-up and personal!

I figured these ones were like little pie pieces.

To make Hexagon #2, you will need:

Hexagon .75 (x 1)
Hexagon the Other Half (x 6)
Triangle .75 (x 6)
Diamond .75 (x 6)

I laid the pieces out and this is what it would look like.

Gilbert saw this and said, "Oh, you're making a Halloween quilt?"

*insert LOUD sound of screeching car brakes, here*

HUH?!??!?

I wanted to use a dark navy with different oranges and yellows, to make my hexagon quilt dramatic.  These hexies were too close to my nose, I think. I never realized that YES, these colors did INDEED look like Halloween colors and NO, that's NOT what I wanted to make!

*insert a LOUD and LONG sigh, here*

Soooooo, I took the first hexagon apart as well as the pieces to the 2nd one.  I will replace the dark navy pieces with some various WOW (White on White) fabrics.

In French, there's a saying that says that "Not only fools can change their minds."

Also, I had originally wanted to make each hexagon a different orange or yellow. But, since some of Linda's hexagons have TWO colors, with white, I thought, "Why waste perfectly good pieces?"

I got 2 ziplocks and am putting left over pieces in them, according to "size".  Figured it would be easier to keep track of them, this way.

*grin*

Also, my printer doesn't take different sized paper.  Although, in the meantime, I DID figure out how to use small pieces of fabric, for Inklingo.

You just iron your small piece of fabric to your 8-1/2" X 11" piece of Freezer Paper and you put 'er through your printer!

Easy, eh?

Here's a picture of my 1.50 pieces.

 

Yesterday evening, I was curious as to how many had visited my blog since I posted on my 1st Hexagon.

Lookee, Lookee!

This is THE most viewers I've ever had!

Oh what a fun adventure this will be!!!

Have a Fantastic Friday, everyone!!!

Rosa

Print 'n Sew With Inklingo!

Hi There!

I'm not sure if any of you remember me mentioning "Inklingo"

 before but it truly IS an incredible quilting tool!

Do any of you remember when you first heard about 

rotary cutters and "self-healing" cutting mats?

HUH?!??!

SELF-HEALING?!?!?

Once you've tried Inklingo, 

you'll understand why Inklingo 

is setting the quilting world on it's ears!

Here's how I can explain Inklingo in a nutshell:

You cut your freezer paper to 8-1/2" X 11"

Iron it on the RIGHT side of your fabric.

With your rotary cutter,

trim your fabric and FP back to

8-1/2" X 11"

Open up your Inklingo PDF.

Select the block you wish to print and ink color.

Put your freezer paper

piece in your printer tray.

Click "Print".

Once printed, remove your FP.

And VOILA!

Your sewing lines are now on your fabric,

ready to be cut 

either with your scissors or rotary cutter

and ready to be sewn....

either by hand or by sewing machine!

And here's Linda Franz's
 Quick Start Guide 
It explains a little more about printing on fabric.

Now, the creator behind Inklingo, 

is always busy creating

new and incredible Inklingo patterns.

She has recently designed over 300 + 

different Hexagon patterns!!! 

And we all know that hexes are the latest craze!

*grin*

My goal is to make all of them!

And to blog about each and every one of them!

I'm making them at 6 inches.

This is Hexagon #1

For those of you that already have this Inklingo pattern,

and would like to follow me on my

Inklingo Hexagon adventure,

you will need....

Hexagon the Other Half, at 1.50

and

Triangle, at 1.50

Did I mention that I'll be handpiecing them?  

*grin*

Here's the back of my hexagon, 

not yet ironed.

And here's the back of my ironed hexagon...

See the nice, neat sewing lines?

When you handpiece with Inklingo,

its almost IMPOSSIBLE to not

make a PERFECT block!

Inset seams are now

NO PROBLEMO PABLO!!!

And.... 

You end up with the cutest "rosettes"

and your block lays nice and flat!

NOTE:  When you finally decide to get OFF the fence and TRY Inklingo, you will be asked where you heard about Inklingo.  

PLEASE click on my name as I'm an "Associate".

Thanks!

Have a Terrific Thursday!

Rosa

Picture Sharing.

 Hi There!

Picture sharing time, once again.

Gilbert's wrist pincushion was getting pretty raggedy.  So, he went on-line to find a nice, puffy and big-enough-for-a-man, wrist pincushion.

We ordered 2 from 2 different spots on-line and it certainly wasn't what we were expecting.

Sooooo, once again, it was Rosa to the rescue.

Made this one from the leftover fabrics of "Be Happy".  You know - the baby quilt that we sent to his daughter?   S'nice to use up every little bit of fabric that I have here!   

*grin*

A few weeks ago, we placed an order of thread, for Gilbert and Bertha, our Gammill longarm.

Once this thread arrived, Gilbert needed a place to "display" them.  He made another wall board, with pegs to hang these big cones of thread.

On this picture, there's either no varnish or just 1 coat.

Can't remember.  

 *s*

And here it is, proudly hanging in its place!

It has been terribly hot 'n humid this past week or so.  And, to be honest, heat and I are not really the best of friends....

I've been going into my Quilting Studio and most times, just pant in front of my portable fan and "ponder".  I might lift a bit of fabric.... just to place it in another spot. LOL

Anyhow, this morning is a new day!  I hope to work on one of my Dear Jane blocks and finish the top of my Christmas Eye Spy quilt, today!

Wish me luck!

Rosa

P.S. I forgot that I have 12 more "Mug Rugs" or coasters to make, for a cousin's friend.   HEY!  I'm gettin' paid for these!  *VBG*