Still WInter

It took a while but we have a sufficient amount of snow. It was been rather cold lately. It looks like next week will be a little warmer. Trish and I were out walking in the snow yesterday.

I have been procrastinating on quilting Mish Mash. I need to spend time working on it. But my first priority is knitting a hat and scarf for work. We had an on-line auction to help raise money for our MS Walk. I need to make the hat and scarf and send it to the highest bidder. Her three colour choices were midnight blue, black and brown. Romni didn't have a midnight blue and the black seemed flat. So Chocolate Souffle it is.

I have been thinking about what to do with all the fabric I got at Christmas. At this point the Kaffe Fassett fabric will be used in a pinwheel quilt. I was looking through the Kaffe Fassett books and made a list of patterns that would require new skills. The pinwheel won out (a photo of the quilt can be found at http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/info_Quilt_1556.html). The pattern is on the small size (44 x 51), so I think I may try to make it bigger... I will need to get some solid fabric to go with it. Below is a photo of the main fabric I'll be using.

I also have a plan for the new Amy Butler fabric. I'm thinking about using the Wallpaper Strips Quilt pattern from Fassett's Quilt Road. But that may change...

Okay to summarize priorities:

1. knitting hat and scarf
2. quilt Mish Mash
3. use Kaffe Fassett fabric
4. use Amy Butler fabric

If you have any suggestions for the Amy Butler fabric, let me know. I'm always looking for new ideas.

That scarf is not going to knit itself. I better get back to work.

More later.

L

PS Happy Birthday, Dad.

Mish Mash Update

Yesterday I basted Mish Mash. It took over the living room floor. I have no idea how long it took. I was fully supervised.

Calle is a little more "paws on" in her management style.

The photo above is to give you a sense of the size of the quilt. The finished size is suppose to be 63 x 70.

I will start hand quilting today. It will probably take a few weeks to quilt and a day or so to bind. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I really like Amy Butler's fabric. Wait until you see my next two quilting projects (one will be in Butler's new line of fabric and the other will be Kaffe Fassett).

I have been knitting hats and scarves for the Street Knit Project. My work group was mentioned in a recent post on their site (http://www.streetknit.ca/). There are some photos of my co-workers also posted.

I need to go and find some cat grass. These means I have to leave the house... I'm not sure that is a good idea. It could be worse I could live in Manitoba...

More later.

L

Sorry it has been awhile since I last posted...

... it has actually been cold here in Toronto and I have been wearing my scarf and mittens indoors to stay warm. Today's high was predicted to be -15 (-31 with the windchill), so we are staying indoors. I almost got frostbite walking up the street to get the newspaper.

Next weekend is suppose to be warmer. My plan for next weekend is this. Find the Fabricland that is located near the HBC at Yonge and Bloor and get a zipper for Allison's cardigan. I also plan on basting Mish Mash. I finally got the batting out yesterday to try to get the wrinkles out of it. I need to sew the backing piece together. Calle will no doubt want to help with the baste part when the quilt is on the floor. To summarize I will be spending a lot of time with the sewing machine next weekend.

Last weekend I got up to get more coffee and this is what happened...

The boy stole my spot. This was Sunday morning as I tried to recover from Saturday. I meet Wendy and Lucie Jane at their hotel (Wendy was helping at the ONDP convention) and we went for breakfast. After that I met up with Allison and we went shopping. If you want a work out forget about the new Boot Camp fad. Go shopping on Queen Street West with Allison. We both arrived back here with bags and bags of stuff. Allison found some incredible deals. I got this great sweater from Preloved (www.preloved.ca). What they do is take old clothing, cut them and resew them together. I feel in love with a lot of their sweaters. The one I bought on sale for $20. It has some holes in it, that I will patch.

I have been having a difficult time taking photos of the amaryllis blooms. Here are two of the photos.

I like this one because you can see Calle in the background. I put the plant on the rad by the kitchen door to take the photos. That is Calle's usual perch. She is a little territorial.

Here is the second photo. I altered the lighting. I will keep trying until I get it right.

More later.

L

Only a zipper away

I finished sewing Allison's cardigan. I finished knitting the collar on Sunday night. All I need now is a zipper and time to sew the zipper to the cardigan. There are no zipper stores in my neighbourhood (the purchasing of a zipper will require an field trip outside of the Annex...). I wonder if there is still a Fabricland at Yonge and Bloor? Then all I need is to remember what the zipper foot looks like for the sewing machine.

I have begun work on Trish's cardigan again. I have sewn the shoulders and am in the process of making the collar. I'll take some photos this week and post them next weekend.

We are still knitting at work for Street Knit Project. We gained our first male knitter this past week. Jim is a natural. He has been knitting on his breaks. We should have completed 50 scarves, 24 hats and 3 pairs of mittens by the end of the month in total since we started.

Several of the indoor plants are blooming. I'll take photos of them this week to post (help liven up the blog).

Next weekend is going to be busy. I'm having brunch on Sunday with Brian (since he left work to go back to school in August we have been trying to meet up for brunch once a month). Wendy and Lucie Jane are in Toronto for the ONDP convention. They left a few of Lucie Jane's toys behind at New Years that I should return. I think I also have tentative plans to meet up with Allison (she found the quilting pattern she misplaced at Christmas). I need to make a trip to the Goodwill to get rid of some old cloths.

Soon I'll start to work on Mish Mash again. I know I could get it machine quilted, but it is not that big. It is the basting that seems rather daunting to me. I need to iron the top and prep the backing. I also need to get the wrinkles out of the batting. I have only had that since September folded up in a bag. It will be nice to get it our from underneath the bed (although I am concerned to find other things that I have hidden under the bed).

Time to start dinner (there is a marinade that requires 2 hours of resting or whatever it does). I will have photos for next week and maybe funny stories about knitting and quilting.

More later.

L

It is actually snowing

I think today is the first time it has snowed this winter for an extended period of time. It probably won't stick around for long, so I have not gone out back to make a snowman. Of course we'll end up with a blizzard in mid-May.

I have been working on finishing Allison's cardigan. I have sewn the shoulders together and have started to sew the sides. Then I need to get a zipper and machine sew it in. The yarn is 100% Lopi wool.

Looking at the cardigan as I was taking the photo I had a nervous feeling that perhaps the sleeves were short. I tried it on to check (yes Allison I wore your sweater) and the sleeves seem fine. I can make an adjustment if they are short on Allison (knit a few extra rows in the rib pattern afterwards). I made one sweater for Trish that required extra length in the sleeves and body. It worked out well due to the pattern of the sweater. So no worries... okay maybe just a little one.

Last year I made Dad, Len and Trish one each of this sweater pattern in different colours. Maybe Mom and I will get one next year...

I'm trying to figure out how best to finish Trish's cardigan. The pattern calls for a ribbon, but Trish is concerned about washing. Maybe we'll try a button approach.

We ordered our two daylilies this week from We're In the Hayfield Now (http://www.hayfield.ca). We went with Hayfield Sunrise and Hayfield Sunset (they should come as a set). The 2007 introductions have been updated on the website.

I have booked my flight to Halifax for May. I had a credit with Air Canada I had to use before June 10, 2007. I compared the airline ticket prices to that of the train and a return train trip is $10 less. But it takes a day and half each way and there is the need to buy food.

I am still distracted by all the fabric I got at Christmas. I have found a couple of ideas, but I cannot start working on them until my Christmas knitting and Mish Mash is done.

I should get back to finishing Allison's cardigan. I may need to shove the walkway this afternoon. Where did I put the shovel?

More later.

L

Settling into 2007

My father called at 6:40 this morning to let me know that they arrived home safely. I spoke with both my parents tonight. I think it is best for me to talk to people when I have at least finished my first coffee of the day.


I took a photo of the white Amaryllis today. It will have three blooms on this stalk.

I hope to get the Ansel Adams exhibit before it closes on February 4th. The Emily Carr starts in March. When I first learned of the Carr exhibit, March 2007 seemed so far away. The restaurant at the AGO is closed during the renovations. We have lost a fancy brunch place.

I'm still working on finishing Allison's cardigan, then Trish's (I'll take photos of them in progress this weekend). My new years resolution is to minimize the number of projects I have going at the same time. Once the knitting is done, I can move onto finishing Mish Mash. I need to baste, then hand quilt it. First it will need to be ironed. I also need to de-wrinkle the batting.

I am still tempted by the new Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabric I got at Christmas. I also have about 25 fat quarters of Asian fabric to figure out something with.

I received the copy of Kaffe Fassett's Kaleidoscope of Quilts. I am disappointed. I ordered it on-line without seeing first. Basically it is the same patterns with his new fabric.

The Street Knit Project group at work is still going. I guess we will keep working until we are told to stop.

More later.

l

The Year is Almost Over

I'm waiting for Trish and Trotsky to return home. Every once in a while I think I have done the required housework, I realize that there is something else that needs to done.


I have today's Star and Globe to entertain me. I also have the latest Karin Fossum book (Calling Out For You) to read. Trish gave it to me for Christmas. I enjoyed her other two books. Fossum is from Norway and writes mystery novels.


I'm also listening to the Yahoo radio station. I have discovered that you can skip songs that you don't like or don't feel like listening to. You can also rate the performer, song and album. It is keeping me amused.


Calle is doing her part to keep me entertained. She is now playing with the felt ball I got her for Christmas (Trotsky got one too). She will hid behind the Christmas tree to have a sneak attack. What a crazy cat.


I have discovered a stash of things left behind my parents. Unfortunately they only left behind a penny in terms of money (what a lousy tip). I think they will have to drop by to gather up the rest of their belongs before heading home.

This is the night light my parents (okay mother) gave me. It is made by Seagull. I will have to find a better place for next year. That will require Trish's help, as she has a much better sense of these things than I do.

This is the stash of fat quarters Allison gave me. It is the newest Kaffe Fassett. There is a pattern for it, but she misplaced it...

Calle is not going to give up her title as best Christmas present without a fight. Once some presents were put under the tree, she was unable to de-skirt the tree. Even my cat has a better interior design flare, than me... Allison made the skirt last Christmas. It was originally for herself, but I kind of guilted her into giving it to me...

Our friends Wendy and Jeff are bringing their daughters Olivia and Lucinda Jane for a visit tomorrow afternoon. The morning will involve child-proofing the upstairs and grocery shopping. If there is time maybe a stop at Bookcity to find a kid's book for Olivia. Tomorrow evening we are staying home. The plan at this point is for a Moroccan dinner and watch a movie or two.

I'm still working on a New Year's resolution. Although it is not a resolution and it is rather obvious, I'm not going to start any new projects until I have finished the three I have in progress. I have to finish Trish's cardigan, Allison's cardigan and Mish Mash. The knitting I'll work on first.

Okay I need to start my book.

More later.

L

Happy Boxing Day

Here are some photos of the cats. They are now able to be in the same room without hissing...

My parents and I went to Allison and Len's for Christmas dinner yesterday. It was a fabulous turkey dinner.

Today we are off to Ikea. They need to pick up something for my Aunt Gloria. And I need to some under the bed storage boxes.

I should make sure everyone has breakfast.

More later.

L

Christmas Eve

I went grocery shopping with my Mom first thing today. This afternoon I went to Dufferin Mall for the first time. I went with my Dad for his last minute shopping.

I hosted a Christmas Eve gathering tonight. Allison, Len and his parents (Walter and Evelyn) came over from Oakville for Christmas Eve dinner. I made a beef stew for dinner (of course it had a red wine base). Mom took care of the appetizer. Trish (even though she is away) made dessert (chocolates).

On the topic of Trish's Christmas treats. She added two new chocolates to her collection this year. The first was an orange and dark chocolate bark, the second was a Jackson Pollack inspired chocolate with dried apricots and nuts. I have voted that they make the list for next year and so did everyone else. They are gooood.

We did our gift exhange. I got some of the new line of Kaffe Fassett fabric and from Allison. She also gave me a bracelet she made. A flower press from my parents. I gave Allison her yet to be finished sweater. I'll get it sewn this week, then I just need to get a zipper for it.

It is late and I need to get some rest. Tomorrow we go to Oakville...

I'll post photos tomorrow.

They have arrived

My parents arrived yesterday afternoon. Their room was ready for them. They even got new sheets on the bed.




The quilt on the chair is the quilt my mom made two years. Allison and Len also got a quilt. Last year she gave me fabric to make my own quilt.


The cats are co-existing. They may spend time in the same room without hissing at some point. Elizabeth is being kept in the bedroom with my parents overnight to allow Calle to wander the house. The photo of Calle is before our company arrived. Elizabeth made herself at home quickly.



I should go. I'm being a bad bed and breakfast person. Day 2 has begun.

More later.

L