A bright pretty little quilt

Another from the WIP list (#4 in my original post) I made this for my coworker's second baby daughter. She came a little early, so this one was an 'after her arrival' gift. Which turned out well as I was able to include a label with her name on it.



Everything in this quilt came from my stash, I purchased nothing new. There are fabric bits leftover from A's baby quilt, N's baby quilt, Sam's baby quilt and a dress I made Katie when she was a toddler. The solid purple backing is leftover from Jennifer's purple quiltie. Even the batting was leftover from another project. I'm pretty pleased by how cohesive it all looks given the multiple sources. More importantly it turned out bright and happy, which is what I wish for this baby and her parents.

WIP Follow-up #1

Well it's late March and I have precious little to show for it in terms of my WIP list. Little - but not nothing.



#12 on the list, the Nautical New Wave baby quilt, is done and was gifted last week. I love how it turned out, though the back had to be improvised on the fly after my machine flat out refused to quilt through the marine blue ultra cuddle fabric I'd bought to back it.



An almost big enough piece of blue bisected by a strip of leftover pieces from the front. Bound in red it's boyish without being baby. I think it almost feels preppy :)

I've also (finally) ordered the Kona coal I need to finish #1 on the list. Slow and steady right?

A Star is Born

OK she wasn't actually the *star* (though of course I only had eyes for her) but Katie made her stage debut in our community theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz.



Best Munchkin ever :)

I've complained quietly, but endlessly, about the process. It's been a ridiculously long 4 months, 6+ hours a week of rehearsals, endless emails and notes and emails about notes, the driving, the waiting and waiting as rehearsals routinely went over, the utter exhaustion. But she was breathtaking. The whole production was good, but the children were just spectacular, consummately professional, not a missed cue, not a missed line, not a missed step, they showed up the adults in every one of the 6 performances (and the young actress who played Dorothy, oh she was the best of the bunch!)

She can't wait to audition again for next year's show.

Twelve

My baby princess is 12.



And what an incredible 12 years it's been. She is brilliant, witty, dramatic, challenging, loving, outgoing and so very brave. She's been independent since she was a toddler but now she's also incredibly self reliant. She's always eager to try new things (though getting her to stick with any of them can be difficult).



Nearly everything she tries she is good at right away. She is enormously talented in music, an excellent writer, strong in math. She's a strong swimmer and a good runner. She has an incredibly memory, and a real gift for remembering people.



She loves fashion and accessories (especially hats), and perfume and stinky candles, and shoes. She's a whiz with computers and electronics, but secretly she still loves her dolls too.

She is so much more than I ever imagined possible, she surprises and delights me daily. I can't wait to see what the next 12 years have in store...

Finally, NHL hockey again

I'm a huge hockey fan, this lock-out was just excruciating, but now hockey is back! Tonight C and the bits are at the Ottawa/Carolina game (and mama is having a quiet evening at home, nursing the headache that never ends and listening to the game on the radio).

The 'WIPs'

WIP is an acronym for 'work in progress', and as someone who enjoys starting things a little more than finishing them I've accumulated a few quilting 'WIPs'. So, in the hopes of encouraging myself (or possibly shaming myself) to get them done I'm going to catalogue them all here and update on my progress over the year. I have 12 WIPs, there are 12 months - can I finish them all?

1. James' oscilloscope quilt
Details: This is a quilting bee quilt, but I didn't get back enough squares to finish it. I've been making blocks on and off for it since.
What I need to get it done: Charcoal Kona, (the grey background fabric), I haven't got enough and I can't source it locally. I think this will have to wait for my next trip Stateside.
Timeline: I'd love to have this done by his birthday in July.

2. Ocean Blue quilt
Details: Another bee quilt, or rather several bees. This is destined to be a queen size quilt for my bed. I'm actually surprised that I have as many blocks as I do, with a little sashing (probably dark grey) I'll only need 3 more blocks.
What I need to get it done: Sashing, backing and batting. And motivation.
Timeline: Knowing that this is closer than I thought makes me itchy to get it done, but since it's for me there is no deadline.

3. Blue baby zigzag
Details: this is my oldest WIP, I don't even remember starting this. The blocks come from this tutorial, use fabrics I no longer have and, I think maybe broadcloth for the white?
What I need to get it done: Eesh, do I want to get it done, really? It's tiny in current format, sewn together and trimmed it'd be maybe 18 x 24, hardly seems worth the effort.
Timeline: I'll give myself a couple of weeks to decide whether to try to make something from this, or just scrap it entirely.

4. Baby girl baby quilt
Details: hardly fair to call this is WIP since I haven't started, but a coworker will be welcoming a little girl into the world soon and a baby quilt will be needed :)
What I need to get it done: Everything! But to start, inspiration.
Timeline: Baby is due early May, so this needs to be finished mid-April at the latest.

5. Wookie's I-spy quilt
Details: A companion piece to Princess' I-spy, this got shelved when I realized that he hated the feeling of the minky dot I'd chosen for the backing.
What I need to get it done: Just batting, the top is pieced, new minky-but-not-textured backing is waiting, this is just utter laziness that it hasn't been completed.
Timeline: I'm thinking this will be the first finish from the WIP list, I'll try to set aside a couple of hours next weekend and get 'er done.

6. D and Z's i-spy quilts
Details: Planned i-spy quilts for my cousin's two sweet boys. Stalled by indecision - do I make them comfy couch size like Princess and Wookie's (around 50 inches square) or do I add in some solids and bring them up to a proper twin for their beds?
What I need to get it done: Well, if I go with twin I'll need to cut 150 squares of solid coloured fabric for each. Either way each will also need backing and batting.
Timeline: No set timeline but aiming for fall

7. Robots baby quilt
Details: I don't remember starting this either :O. It's the leftovers from Wookie's quilt plus a really striking orange geometric print that I wish I had a ton more of.
What I need to get it done: Looks like there's enough fabric to make a small baby quilt top, something in the 24 x 30 realm, so I'd only need backing and batting.
Timeline: Well I have no destination for this, so I have no deadline, but it'd be nice to have a baby quilt ready for the next friend who pops out a little bundle. Or I could donate it... since it's small and there isn't much left to do I'd like to get to this within the next couple of months

8. Sunkissed quilt
Details: This is a project for future me. I love this fabric, and have been accumulating bits of it. In my mind I see it as a stacked coins quilt ( like this ) but that could change.
What I need to get it done: That really depends on where I go with it, but at a minimum lots of white sashing to make those pretty colours pop, and batting and backing. Probably a few more FQs of Sunkissed too.
Timeline: It's for me, so whenever I get around to it!

9. Suzanne's lighthouse quilt
Details: Planning a lap quilt for my MIL to use at their cottage. I jumped in too fast and started cutting without any real plan, now I'm unsure what I'll do with the pieces.
What I need to get it done: A plan! In all honesty, pulling out the fabrics makes me realize that I'm still not over my annoyance with myself for hacking that fabric up without a plan. It might be awhile before I can push past that.
Timeline: Well, her birthday is in May, if I can get a plan together that'd be a good time to shoot for. otherwise, well Christmas is coming...

10. Neighbourhood quilt
Details: Another bee quilt. Even with the wide sashing between the blocks that I'd planned I'm still a few short. I'd originally planned this as a companion for Princess's quilt (she has bunk beds) but she's rapidly becoming too old and cool for such a cute design...
What I need to get it done: A minimum of 3 more house blocks, and a whole lot of wide sashing, as well as batting and backing.
Timeline: I just don't know, I guess I can finish it up and see if she's even interested? I guess if she's not that it might suit my little niece... I'd like to get it done by September.

11. Chocolate baby quilt
Details: Pieced this out of leftovers, for no reason at all. Picture of all of the blocks here. The blocks are now pieced into strips, but that's as far as I've gotten.
What I need to get it done: I have my heart set on backing this with chocolate minky, but my last trip to ye olde fabric store of uselessness (aka Fabricland) yielded nothing. I think I'll have to wait until my next trip Stateside.
Timeline: No plans for this, so no deadline, but since it'll be April before I'm in the states again this won't get touched until at least then.

12. Nautical new wave baby quilt
Details: a baby sized version of Oh Fransson's New Wave quilt pattern, in nautical fabrics, for a dear friend who is expecting her first (a boy) at the beginning of April.
What I need to get it done: probably 2 - 3 more FQs of nautical print fabric, plus batting and backing. I bought the acrylic template for making the blocks, which should make cutting them so much faster than last time.
Timeline: Has to has to has to be done by early March. Eep!

Twelve WIPs which should, I think, result in 11 new quilts by years end (on the fence about #3 there, really leaning towards just tossing it)

Our (not-so-little) Idol

Again this year Princess participated in Greely Idol, a singing competition for children in a village near here. Again she didn't place top 5, but she amazed us with her poise and fearlessness and power. I see great things in her future...

Katie is Confirmed

A big day for our princess, she was confirmed in church this afternoon. I should speak glowingly about her commitment and about how beautiful the ceremony was, but the day was kind of marred by a misunderstanding about the start time that left her Godmother unable to attend, by the fact that her local grandparents chose not to attend, and by the fact that they crammed a group from Russell in with our kids so that our tiny church was absolutely jam packed. The service was presided over by Msgr Kevin Beach, who I guess is a good Vicar General, but we're all quite fond of our regular priest and the way he does things.

Afterwards we took both bits out for Chinese buffet to celebrate, which was simply a perfect way to wrap up a stressful day (did I mention we were stuck driving in snow squalls all day? Fun times!) We gave Katie a sweet little sterling cross and chain to help her remember her special day. Love that kid :)

Shopping!

My bits are total shoppers (I should really request a DNA test, how can they possibly be mine with my hated of malls?). The sitter gave them each a very generous gift card for Christmas and today we headed out to spend them :) First stop: Best Buy, little J was looking for Skylanders, we were disappointed by how crappy Best Buy's selection was, he picked out one and still has enough left on his gift card that we'll be forced to make another trip in the future.

Then we went to 'Ardene'. Leave it to the sitter (who is the mom of two teenaged girls) to know the perfect store for Katie - she loved EVERYTHING in there, I never thought we'd make it out alive! After trying on 2/3 of the store she finally settled on two tanks, a cute cropped off the shoulder sweater, a fur hat with teddy bear ears, a leopard print infinity scarf, bright blue earmuffs and two 'surprise bags' of jewellery. Happy girl.

First skate of the season

First skate of the season, at the community centre rink. PERFECT day for skating, mild and sunny, pretty much no wind, and the whole rink to ourselves.

Ringing in the New Year

So happy to have James with us to ring in the new year. We started the evening with a trip to Mongolian Hot Pot, one of our very favourite places to eat out. We stuffed ourselves senseless, then went to the theatres to watch Worlds Away, the Cirque du Soleil movie. We went in having no idea what it was going to be about (and came out having no idea what it was about) but it was really cool, the acrobatics were amazing! Personally I don't think it really benefited from the 3D treatment, I found it more of a distraction than enhancement, but the kids love the 3D experience. We, of course, had to play a few games in the theatre's acrcade before heading home to play cards and wait for midnight. My idea of a perfect evening, all of us together.

Christmas Crafting

Quiet on the blog lately, I know, life has a way of taking up all of my time :)

I did a little bit of Christmas crafting this year :) I started out with 4 quilted tote bags for four work friends (we've been spending time together as a group for years now). They're featured in a previous post :)

I made a quilt for my mom:

This is the 9-patch pattern from Crazy Mom Quilts' quilt along, and it's the second time I've made this pattern. This time I added 2 extra rows of 9-patches and removed the borders. It measured 66" x 82" before washing, which should work for draping over the back of a couch when it's not being snuggled under (my mom likes to curl up on the couch with her books). I chose a gold/brown/orange colour scheme, with a few greens and reds thrown in. It's backed with a deep brown solid and bound in a beige leaf print.
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And I made a quilt for my grand-niece Emilie:

This started as a quilting bee project, with the scrap-busters group on Flickr. I received 8 scrappy string blocks in the swap, and made the other 22 myself. It was a HUGE amount of work, and so very difficult getting all of those white lines to join up and all of those bias edges to stay straight, but I think it might be my favourite quilt that I've made, ever. It was really hard to give this one away!
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I also made calendars for my mom and mother-in-law. This has become a bit of a tradition, I've been making them annually for many years (I should try and figure out just how many years... it's at least 8 anyway)

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And finally I made a little pouch for J-man, to hold the tablet that we got him for Christmas (we got one for his sister too, but I haven't yet made a pouch for her)

A Hot Wheels licensed fabric, lightly quilted with random straight orange lines and lined with a soft minky to protect the screen, with a velcro flap and handle to keep everything contained.

It was an ambitious Christmas but I got everything that I wanted to make made :) Now I have other projects to start, including baby quilts for a couple of expecting coworkers and an attempt at Project Life (probably digital).

Christmas 2012

The bits let us sleep in until 7am Christmas morning, which would have been a lovely treat had the biggest kid of them all not been bouncing on the bed at 6, anxious for the littles to wake up :)

We had a lovely, quiet morning and early afternoon at home, then headed into the city to have dinner at the sister-in-law's home with most of C's family. I took exactly zero pictures, even though the littles were surrounded by their cute cousins. I guess I was distracted by all of the yummy food!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours :)

Tote bags

I made 4 quilted tote bags for my four office mates with whom I enjoy hanging out, chatting, etc. Hard to believe that we're been working together 6 and a half years. We got together last evening for our annual Christmas cookie exchange, this year made all the sweeter with the addition of sharing our favourite wines and cheeses. I didn't take any pictures of our gathering, but I did snap this shot of the tote bags.

I didn't use a pattern, they're just simple 20 inch square quilted panels with a coordinating lining and handles. I topstitched them after turning but the lining isn't tacked down. They're reasonably substantial, should be able to hold a load of groceries or a towel and a bunch of books for a beach day.

Glorious morning

Takes my breath away. 7:25am

Happy Hallowe'en

Ah Hallowe'en, not my favourite holiday but the kids love everything about it, the candy, the costumes, the running around after dark... and the candy. Oh the candy!

This year Katie decided to be a "50's girl", and Jonah was a cowboy. Except, because this is 2012 and they're 9 and 11, they had to be an undead 50's girl and an undead cowboy. Ahem. I made Katie's poodle skirt out of felt with a sequined border. Those sequins, ai yi yi, I couldn't glue them so I ended up stitching them all by hand, almost 3 yards.

Jonah's cowboy shirt came from Giant Tiger (you mean there are people who dress like this all of the time?), his boots were Katie's (now outgrown) and his hat was a most fortuitous Dollarama find, but his holster and guns, we went to multiple toy and department stores before finally finding this set at a costume shop (and overpriced at that). Crazy, I guess cowboys aren't popular any more. Pity.

The trick or treated with C for more than an hour (in lovely mild weather) and brought home heaps of candy and crap.

Thanksgiving camping trip

We decided to take a little camping trip for Thanksgiving, all 5 of us. We love camping, and we all have good quality warm sleeping bags so we weren't worried about being cold. We chose Cedar Point State Park, not too far away, and reasonably close to Watertown, where we could do a little shopping. Our site was right on the water, so we'd have nice views, maybe some pretty sunsets....

We arrived rather later than we'd hoped Friday and were a little disappointed with our site, it was on the water, sure, but it was at the edge of the park, there was a cottage right beside it (like RIGHT beside it) and it was flanked by giant campers (we were tent camping). Still, we were undeterred, set up the tents and stuff in the dark and settled in. The next morning we were surprised by the wind, a near constant wind that blew across the water, but we figured it was just a windy day.

The park had some family fun activities that morning - costumes, clowns, crafts and lots of snacks, the kids had a blast. In the afternoon we drove into Watertown, shopped, had dinner at Olive Garden (a total highlight!) and returned to the campground after dark.... to this.

The constant wind had strengthened and blown down both of our tents. C and James fought with them for a few minutes before realizing that the wind was just too strong, we wouldn't be able to keep them standing. Thankfully the park operators were completely understanding and switched us to a site further inland, away from the wind. Threw everything into the car and moved across the park, setting up the tents in the dark, again.

Sunday we did nothing! The new site was much better, no wind, no neighbours, lovely view of the sheltered marina. It was really cold Sunday, but with a fire blazing and sweaters on we huddled together, played cards and washers, drank, ate like pigs and relaxed. Sunday is the day I'll remember when I look back on this trip (hopefully I'll be laughing about the tents blowing down by then!) And yes, despite everything, I hope we go camping for Thanksgiving again next year. But next time we'll know which sites to choose...

A sweet little girly quilt

Another little quilty, this one for a lovely lovely lady in my office who is having her first long awaited baby (a girl!) in early October (yes, two pregnant ladies in my office, both having girls, both were due only 6 weeks apart).

As soon as Nabila announced the pregnancy I ordered these fabrics from Sarah Jane Studios and crossed my fingers that she was having a girl (she is!) I chose a very simple square in square pattern so that I could highlight fussy cut squares of the sweet little girl and little outfit images from the fabric. And though it turned out a little smaller (it measures about 36" x 45") I'm super pleased with it.

Kind of bummed that I didn't take a picture of the back before I gifted it though... it's simple, but sweet, half pink, half baby blue with a strip of the balloon print fabric in between. I love piecing backs that are (almost) as cute as the fronts, it's like getting two quilts in one!

A little Labour Day cottaging

Spent Labour Day weekend at the cottage. Hadn't been in more than a year! It was a quiet weekend, the wind was incredible, which made some amazing waves for my little boogie boarders.

Baby cakes!

There was a baby shower at the office today for a sweet coworker and I brought cupcakes. I saw these on Pinterest and was dying to recreate them.

Mine were a little less, uhm, professional looking.

She appreciated the thought anyway :) (I also made lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting which were divine)

Back to school

Another summer is in the history books as the bits return to school, grades 6 and 4.


















And for a smile: Back to school through the years... (click for larger)

Harvesting!

We've finally had a little rain and my garden is so very happy because of it!

Date Week 2012 - Date #5

For today's date night C and I took in the last concert of ChamberFest, a French quartet called Quatuor Ebène (along with guest pianist and violinist). The concert took place in gorgeous Dominion-Chalmers United Church, which has acoustics to die for!

A man seated beside us kept complaining about the musicians' interpretation of the pieces they were playing (which was very fresh and different, quite exciting!). He said "it doesn't even sound like Tchaikovsky, Tchaikovsky should sound prayerful". I wanted to tell him that prayer doesn't have to be solemn, that prayer can be joyful and uplifting, but I didn't have the balls. He moved during the intermission anyway so I didn't need to endure his critique of the Chausson piece (which was one I'd never heard before, and it was crazy good!).

And so ends date week 2012. It was a wonderful week, filled with tons of fun things, but the best part was just being with my honey.

(FYI: Quatuor ébène means 'ebony quartet'. You're welcome)

Date Week 2012 - Date #4

Tonight's date was a bit of a ménage à trois since Big J was in town, but no less enjoyable. We started off having dinner at Buffet des Continents, then we had reserved seating for Les grands feux du Casino du Lac-Leamy, which is an annual international fireworks competition.



We saw Zaragozana perform, representing Spain. Their theme was 'A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea', the soundtrack featured music and sound effects meant to evoke the various countries along the Mediterranean. It was FAB-U-LOUS!!



It rained earlier in the afternoon, which meant for the evening performance the humidity was gone, we were dry and comfy.

We have been to this fireworks competition in the past, but have viewed it from the beach (general admission) or from a bridge nearby (aka for free), seeing it in the reserved seating, so that the music was perfectly timed with the explosions, so that the presentation faced you and could be viewed as intended, oh it was just a whole new level of amazing!

Date Week 2012 - Date #3

For date #3 we took a loooooong drive. First we stopped in for lunch with my parents (it'd have been rude to drive right by them without stopping n'est-ce pas?) Then we drove into Toronto. The whole city is like one big flashback to my formative years...

We met up with friends of C's for appetizers and drinks, at Jack Astors. We sat on the patio, chatting and people watching, it was quite lovely.

Then we had tickets to see WarHorse at the Princess of Wales theatre, It was so wonderful!

I've been a theatre buff my whole life, but theatre in Ottawa is twice the price of theatre in Toronto, for far, far fewer shows (and often of lesser quality). I don't miss living in the GTA, not really, but I do miss the theatre.

10 hours round trip is kind of crazy just for a show, but 10 hours of chatting with C, with no one in the back seat bickering or offering up an unsolicited opinion was a rare and lovely treat.

Date Week 2012 - Date #2

Can't really call this one date 'night' :) It's a statutory holiday today in Ontario, but not in Quebec, so we started our day together with a very romantic trip to Costco in Gatineau :) Hehehe.

Afterwards, we went back to the cinema to try our luck at seeing The Dark Knight Rises and found it far less crowded (it was early afternoon). Surprisingly I really enjoyed the movie. And the popcorn was fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of theatre popcorn, it's generally greasy and gross, but this was just perfect.

We came home and spent a quiet evening in, eating butter chicken in front of the tube while watching DVRed episodes of Swamp People. Date week rocks!

(The French version of The Dark Knight Rises is called L'ascension du Chevalier noir, which is kind of sexy sounding. Now you know!)

Date Week 2012 - Date #1!!

Put the bits on the bus at 6:00 tonight for a week of sleepaway camp (at Camp de l'amitié, just like in 2011, and Katie alone in 2010 and 2009), and just like last year when both went away we are celebrating date week!

As soon as the buses pulled away C and I headed out for our first date of Date Week 2012. We had a Dealfind voucher for a little Italian restaurant downtown called Dantessa. It was dim and moody, and had a pretty good house red :) The waiter was strange, really strange, but the food was excellent. I had fettuccine in a cream sauce with spinach, red onion, tomato and shrimp (I wanted the lobster stuffed agnolotti but alas, they were all out. Next time...). We enjoyed an unhurried meal where no one once said 'put your bum on the chair' or 'use your fork'.

After dinner we headed out to the cinema with the intention of seeing The Dark Night... along with 2/3rds of Ottawa it seems. The theatre was jam-packed and the movie sold out! So a quiet night in it was, curled up on the couch watching Thor (aka über-hot guy and the hammer).

I might have a little bit of a crush on the actor who plays Thor. Ahem. Also - I'm a reasonably intelligent person and I have no idea what the heck was going on in that movie. Not that it really mattered since über-hot guy took off his shirt.

A perfect start to date week 2012, me and my honey.

And über-hot guy. :)

A little quilty for a baby-to-be

A lovely lady at work is expecting her first baby, a girl. As soon as she announced the pregnancy I knew I needed to make a little quilty for the bundle of joy.



I chose the New Wave pattern from Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson. I modified it slightly to get the finished size I wanted (about 45" x 48"). It's constructed with fabrics from Connecting Threads featuring cupcakes and ice cream and macarons, how better to celebrate a 'sweet' baby? I love the colours too, a rosey pink, aqua and cream, all grounded with a chocolately brown, feminine without being cloyingly sweet.


The back is a stripe of the focal fabrics from the front, along with two big patches of solids in the same rosey pink and aqua. I love the back, it's simple and soothing, but still visually appealing. Really, I think you could use both sides!

Edited to add: it has been received by the mama, who was pleased :) Now the countdown is on for baby's arrival!