JUST POPPING IN

I am just popping in to let you all know what a great time I am having today :0) (NOT) At 7:30 this morning I picked up a steamer from the rental centre, came home and started stripping border and wallpaper. I have some soup warming on the stove and coffee brewing. I need to take a break, I am almost half finished the room. My motivation to keep going is picturing what the finished room will look like. I tried to use that stuff in the jug for removing paper, but not a chance. I sized the walls when I put it on, but it is not strippable paper, it is traditional. I will have this all off tonight by the time my DH gets home. He is helping out a friend of his today. Here is a picture of what I am doing.

Looks like fun huh. 

STARTING A PROJECT

Well I think I have mustered up enough energy to start the process of painting my living room. I am doing the same colors, but just another coat. It needs freshened up. I have a border above the chair rail that needs to go so I will just have paint on the walls. I found a store not far from here that carries Old Village paint which is what my trim is painted in and I want to use that again. It just so happens that I am judging a horse show in that town in the next couple of weeks so I can pick some up. Last time I had one heck of a time finding the stuff in Canada and had to UPS it here. Today, I'll start packing things up and moving the furniture into the centre of the room. I have been planning this for awhile now, but just finding the energy to start :( The February blues don't help either :(

My birthday is coming up in April and I just ordered a couple of samplers for the living room wall so that is my incentive. Nothing like an incentive to get you off of your butt and get moving :)

Hopefully I'll have some pictures when it is done.

Hope you all have a great day.

Janet

A FINISH AND A GIFT

I finished up a little quilt that I had made last year. It just needed quilting and binding, so now that has been completed.

I also received a gift from my sister. The Seymour pattern that I had searched hi and low for and also she sent me a bundle of homespun fat quarters. I love homespun.

Thanks so much Karen. I love it.

Janet

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentines day!

~Janet

A BIRTHDAY GIRL

Guess who is having a birthday today? Kit is turning 4 today and it will be one year from tomorrow when I adopted her. She has been a great addition to our family and she loves living here on the farm. Here are a few pictures I took of her yesterday. Kit is hoping that Bebhinn, her previous mum will look on our Blog today and see how happy she is living with her new family :)

Kit. She loves to nap on the couch

We were out for a walk after the snow storm yesterday

Ok mummy, it's time to go back inside

FINISHED!

I finally finished quilting and binding the table runner made with Snowman Gatherings fabric using the Twister technique. I just love it. It is a sample for the quilt shop where I work, but I am definitely going to make one for myself.

Quilted and binding on

It even meets the approval of Kenya :)

DECISION MADE

I decided to make a twister table runner with the charm pack of "Snowman Gatherings" by Primitive Gatherings. This was my first time trying the twister. I was pretty cautious about cutting into the blocks, but that little ruler is pretty amazing. I still have to quilt it yet, but here it is. I put a little flange on it. My friend Sue told me how to apply the flange. She puts them on her quilts quite often. I thought it turned out awesome. It gives a nice effect. I couldn't get a close up of the whole runner as it is 39 inches long so I took 2 pictures, one from each end.

So what do you think?

Janet

DECISIONS

Snowman Gatherings arrived at the Quilt shop where I work and I just love it. I am a huge fan of fabrics from Primitive Gatherings, but I really love this line. We have charm packs and jelly rolls.

The problem is........deciding what to make with this charm pack. I am thinking "Twister". I'll post a picture of the project after I make it. They have a gorgeous BOM starting in the spring when the line will be available at shops. I am definitely going to be doing that. 

I don't know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but it is FREEEEEEEEZING here in Ontario this week! Brrrrr

NEW ONLINE PATTERN SHOP

Good morning. I just thought I would make a little announcement that may interest some of you who enjoy quilting and sewing. A good friend of mine, Brenda Miller is a pattern designer and she designs some awesome patterns for quilts and bags. She has just opened up an online site for ordering her amazing patterns, so you don't have to go to a Quilt shop to purchase her patterns anymore, you can order them online and have them shipped right to your home. I have made many of her designs and they are very easy to follow with good pictures and instructions. If you get a chance take a peak. Here are the links.

AMONG BRENDAS' QUILTS (Website) http://www.amongbrendasquilts.com/

Direct link to the shopping site: http://shop.amongbrendasquilts.com/

MYSTERY QUILT PART 1

Today, I finally put the borders on my mystery quilt. You can hardly tell what color palette I like to work with :) Here is a picture of my part 1 of Darlene's mystery quilt part 1. My outside border is almost the same color as my kitchen floor.....LOL.This is the first mystery quilt I have ever done, so it will be interesting. I like to see a finished project before I make it, but what the heck, I may as well give it a try, not like I don't have any scraps in my stash. Darlene has a blog called "Quilts by Darlene" and here is the link..........just in case you would like to join in.

http://quiltsbydarlene.blogspot.ca/

Mystery Quilt Part 1

MISSING YOU

Today is the one year anniversary of the death of my little "Shorty". I miss her so much. I found this little poem to post in her memory.

"Shorty" 1995 - January 13, 2012

ONE YEAR IN HEAVEN

One year in heaven,
One year you've been there, 
So far away,
Someday I'll see you in the air,
One year in heaven,
I miss you so much,
Smile down upon me,
And show me your love.

One year in heaven,
It seems like so long,
Since the last time I saw you,
And then you were gone,
One year in heaven,
You left earth too soon,
But I know they need you,
More than I do,

One year in heaven,
I'm alone on the earth,
I miss your sweet kisses,
And all that you're worth,
One year in heaven,
Is God really there?
Why did he take you,
As I cried in despair.

One year in heaven,
I still see your face,
The day that you took,
The last breath you would take,
One year in heaven,
Why did you die?
I know God needed you,
But I still cry.

One year in heaven,
Soon I'll be there,
So wait by the gate,
Please, this do swear,
One year in heaven,
To me it is long,
But you have no pain,
From this earth you have gone.

One year in heaven,
It's so hard to move on,
I'll send you a prayer,
And sing you a song,
One year in heaven,
Life's not the same,
Since you left this world,
I'm living in a daze.

One year in heaven,
You watch from above,
Sit there and smile,
And send me your love,
One year in heaven,
You may think it's just a day,
But this world is so different,
Since God took you away.

Author Michele Westen

LOOKING FOR A PATTERN

I am looking for this pattern. If anyone has it and would like to sell it, please let me know. I tried to buy one off of ebay, but they wouldn't ship to Canada, I couldn't contact the seller and now the add is expired. The pattern is an older pattern and out of print now.

It is called Seymour the Snowman designed by Pat Sloan for Indygo Junction. Below is what the pattern looks like. Anyone have it?

Janet

FINISHING SOME PROJECTS

I've decided to finish up some projects I had been working on in the fall. This is my snowman wall hanging. I just finished him this afternoon. The pattern is from the Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine and the designer is Rhonda McCray of Farmhouse Threads. The pattern is called "Slim the Snowman".

I love the way he turned out. He is hanging on one my doors and he can stay up all winter. He is not hanging crooked, it was my camera! I used Kona cottons to make him. 
I am also taking part in an online mystery quilt from "Quilts by Darlene". http://quiltsbydarlene.blogspot.ca/ I have my fabric cut out for part one and hope to have it pieced early this week. I will post a picture when I have it done. I usually don't do mystery quilts because I am one that likes to see what the finished project looks like, but I think I will give this a try.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

~Janet

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2013!
~Janet

AN ORNAMENT OF REMEMBERANCE

I bought this little Christmas tree ornament in memory of my little Jack Russell  "Shorty" who passed away last January. When I look at it on my tree, it brings back all of the great memories I have of her.  I was blessed to have her in my life. I miss her so much.

Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

~Janet

ME AND MY "BESTIES"

This is a picture from last Monday, December 17th, 2012. Our friend Mary hosted our yearly Christmas Gathering  and again she made us a wonderful dinner with plenty of delicious appetizers and deserts. We spent a lovely evening together, just enjoying each other's company and reminiscing about our childhood memories of Christmas. Lots of fun.

Michelle, Mary, Shirley, Janet (Me), Brenda and Linda

SANDIE'S GATHERING OF FRIENDS

Last night DH and I were invited up to Shelburne, Ontario to a gathering at the home of our friends Sandie and Henry. What a great time we had, so much food, so delicous! A great time was had by all. It was a two hour drive, but well worth it. Thought I'd post some pictures of the gathering and some pics of Sandie's amazing dishes we had for dinner. She made some wonderful appetizers too. I am still full :)

This is me with my glass of ginger ale :)
I was driving!

DH and Doris's husband.
Sandie and Henry's home was decorated beautifully for the Christmas season.

And the girls gathered in the kitchen!

Noodles and Veggies....this was delicious!

More yummy food

PUMPKIN PARTY

Our girls love eating pumpkins. I have been giving them pumpkins daily and it is quite a sight seeing them gathering around for a pumpkin feeding frenzy.

I hope you all have a great day!

Janet

A STRANGE PLACE FOR A NAP

This morning when I went into the barn to feed the horses, I found our Cat "Sylvester" taking a nap in the little corn crib that DH made to store cobs of corn for our horses. I wanted to take a picture of him curled up sleeping, but he woke up when I was taking the shot. I thought it was a cute picture.

"Sylvester"

SUCH A BIG SUCK

As most of you know, all of our critters are spoiled rotten. Kit, my Jack Russell was napping and I managed to get a couple of pictures. She loves to snuggle under quilts and this time she is under DH's quilt. I caught her just waking up.

Waking up!

Awake!