Showing posts with label Panama Pyramids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panama Pyramids. Show all posts

Thursday, 2 May 2024

Chookshed Stitcher's Challenge, Appliqued Hour Glass Blocks, Cake, Garden Gift

Happy May to all! Though it feels a little like one step forward and two steps back, spring is getting here. Fresh snow out west; here no snow but cold overnight and early mornings have a chilly wind. But it doesn't stop the two who venture out every morning for a good walk. Of course, one of us is wearing a fur coat so he's going to be toasty no matter what. 

As another Ned said...

"What is the good of your stars and the trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?" E. M. Forster 

Time for a Spring Wall Hanging
 I have a lone chipmunk this year. And he is very tiny. Usually we have five or six running about so I'm wondering what happened. It can't be lack of winter food. They all were quite busy last summer steadily carting my sunflower seeds back to their den to the point I imagined a huge seed mine underneath our front lawn. I just looked it up and I was not wrong to imagine that because it said chipmunks can hoard up to 8 pounds of seed during a summer if it is readily available. I counted and their hole was and still is 20 of my steps from one of the three bird feeders. 
Late afternoon sun gave him a glowy look.
The latest cake from Beth has been finished off. So good! A chocolate one and the recipe is amongst Rock Recipes' 20 Best Chocolate Cake Recipes. 
Some women get jewelry but look what Hubby got me...my very own Gorilla Cart. He figured it would be easier than pushing the wheelbarrow and it's got an automatic dump feature which makes it easy to use. It took him a while to assemble and here it is. I love it!

During April I fitted the Chookshed Stitcher's Challenge  #9, the Panama Pyramids, into the stitching plans. I was happy with how it went together fairly accurately with just the one row needed easing of the seams to join correctly. Finishing at 70 in x 65 in., it is big enough for a bed.
So all the rows are together and the sides getting finished. Some quilters have cut through the diamonds on the sides which I'm reluctant to do, so I'm going to have a further think about that. I'm going to layer this one for quilting when I sort out the backing. I'd like to stitch a motif in the solid yellow triangles.  
It has over 1500 hand stitched little EPP triangles in it! And I enjoyed stitching every single one.
The RSC colour for May is pink. Here are a couple of the appliqued Hour Glass blocks that I'd already stitched in pinks. I don't have much pink fabric and I'm sticking to the 2024 fabric diet.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is what does your name mean, as in, are you named after someone maybe or is there a story behind your name. Mom loved my French name which she heard on a radio drama from long ago. It was about a doctor and his nurse who was named Jocelyn. Mom didn't like it to be shortened to Jos and she also didn't know technically it should have had an e on the end for the feminine form. I thought about adding it when I was older but let it go. In all my schooling I only ever knew one other girl with the same name. I loved that my name was rare and different. How about you? Are you named after someone?

I hope your week has gone well and the weekend will be even better. 


Friday, 26 April 2024

Quilting Updates, Rucking, This Weeks' This and That

A frozen mystery meat is thawing on the counter. It must be meat as it's really heavy. Time will reveal what it is and what I can make for supper with it. Any frozen mystery gems at your house?

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is bed and breakfast or luxury hotel? I don't have a preference but I don't think I've ever stayed in a luxury hotel. I'll stay anywhere that looks nice and safe. I spent two March holidays in a condo on a Florida beach and found that to be wonderful. All the amenities, beach almost at the door, surrounded by fellow Canadians also in a holiday mood, but didn't have to talk to anyone unless you wanted to, of course.  When I get my blood pressure checked, I visualize the pelicans (which I'd never seen before and was fascinated with) diving and rising from the sea that I watched while knitting on the beach. The word Bliss comes to mind. Probably some of the most relaxed holiday moments for me ever. What about you? 

I've slow stitched more scrappy Applique Pieced Hourglass blocks. So easy with the 5 inch squares pack all ready to go. This is the first time I've used such precuts. Just realized this is a great RSC super scrappy project too. 

In the sewing room, more work on the Bramble Blooms with three sides sewn on. And two more rows of the Panama Pyramids have been added. One row gave me such grief but I managed to get it done. 
I was disappointed to read that Quiltmania has suddenly, it seems, closed down. As you know I took part in several of their free SAL's and had subscriptions to their magazines at various times over the years. I have a lovely stack of them. They brought a unique world wide perspective to the quilting world that will be missed. 

You are going to shake your head when you hear the latest thing I'm trying out exercise wise. I didn't know it had a name but of course it does. It's called rucking and you can read about it HERE. I've put clothes in the bottom of my backpack and then bar bells to wear on my walks. I'd started light with just 10 pounds which really I hardly feel so I'm going to add more weight. The overall goal is to get back into the shape I achieved during my 69-70 year. That was when I wanted to face age 70 in the best physical shape I could muster. Since then I've experienced stress which can certainly side track personal goals. All is calm presently- well calm-ish- and also, knowing my heart is in good shape means there won't be a better time to resume this goal- fingers crossed. 

I heard from many of you about the Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls recipe I shared in the last post. They are called Buckeyes-such a fun name, in some states and there are slight variations in the ingredients. 

And wow to the news that many folks already knew about that use for castor oil! Thank you, J, for pointing me to THIS SITE that has 6 pages of moisturizing products that contain castor oil! 

Meanwhile, I'm on the hunt for a chocolate bar that is low in gluten. I'm sure some of you will have ideas about this. I've tried several health bar types but they don't taste all that great to me.  I wonder how Kit Kats fare in that department because I like them for a treat now and then. I just found out Cheerios are gluten free (mostly), something I never knew. I guess if you live long enough, you know it all. The tricky part would be what gets remembered. 

Hope your weekend is wonderful and your stitching fingers will be flying!

Happily linking with A Quiltery, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Kathy's Quilts.

Thursday, 18 April 2024

Wooden House Wonderful Thursday Things

Oh dear, over half way through April already! Time, slow down! 

After days of rain, yesterday was a glorious sunny day and I spent time down by the pond watching the ducks float about. As usual they alarm very easily so this was taken from far away. I wonder if they could be the same ones we see there every year. I identified (with help from some of you) American Black Ducks for the first time visiting us last year. 

This has been a good week on many levels. For instance, I've learned from so many of you how to cook squash and eggplant. Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas with me. Check out the comment section on that post HERE if you'd like some ideas/recipes yourself on how to cook these vegetables.I also got to walk lots in between downpours so feel good about my exercise level. And sewing wise, I've enjoyed moving a number of projects forward by hand and machine.

Panama Pyramids on the ironing board... I sometimes watch/listen to tv in the sewing room if I don't have an audio book.

I'm stitching the Crossroads blocks together too-such nice easy joining, not like those pesky  pyramids. 

 Here is a last look at the yellows all together on the wall. They are a range from semi brights to darks. 
Update on the cross stitching...Here is the beginning of Block 8 of Year at Hawk Run Hallow. This is the August block which features the phrase  dog days of summer beside a beautiful strong tree. 

Each block is 92 x92 and is stitched 2 over 2. Back to pouring rain here this morning and I apologize for the poor lighting. I do not press for photos either as I don't want to crush the stitches any more than they are being pressed during the stitching. Actually at this point with such a large piece, I feel like it has been mauled. 
I finished reading Vinegar Girl by the wonderful Anne Tyler and enjoyed it. Her books have been a boon to me all my adult life. I love how she writes about relationships, especially spousal. I probably read her work looking for answers back in the day. Her writing has often been compared to Jane Austen's, btw.
And I've just started the wonderful book, A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.  I read this decades ago when living in an isolated community on the coast of Labrador and loved it. It will be interesting to see how it compares to my memory. 
LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is simply chewy or crunchy??? I like both, what about you?  For instance, I find the crunch of celery, apples and almonds enjoyable and also like the chewiness of treats like Rice Krispie squares...writing that makes me want one.  

I've collected more free patterns so promise to share in a post soon.✔ Oh and the daughters and myself have been trying a common ingredient that promises to smooth and plump the face. So I'll share that too.
Going to be raining here for the next three days, but it is not snowing like so many parts of Canada and the US are still experiencing. And the grass is turning green too so all good. Hope things are similarly positive for you too!

Thursday, 4 April 2024

April Snowstorm, Chookshed Challenge, Crochet

 Mother Nature had a surprise in store for us. A winter snowstorm began last night and is continuing this morning. Woke up to this...

Hopefully winter 2024's very last blast. I'm not at all upset as I've been worried about the lack of ground water the very early spring might cause. Perhaps this will help. And we have not lost the power, which they were warning us about, so fingers and toes crossed...

Deanna at Dreamworthy Quilts chose #9 for our Chookshed Stitchers Challenge this month. I was so happy to get out my #9 which is this project, the oldest I think of the WIPs I chose for this QAL. This is my Panama Pyramids.

 I used a marking pencil to outline the triangles and they were all joined by hand. Happy memories of enjoying the process very much and it truly does deserve my attention this month. I have five more strips to join unto those pictured. I began that last night so I'm confident I will work on this one at least to the flimsie stage. And happy to set it as my April OMG over at Anne- Marie's Stories From the Sewing Room blog.

I'm also learning how to crochet a solid granny square. Of all the crocheting I've done, I've never made this particular pattern. YouTube is my friend so often. 

My little corner of the tv room...I enjoy gathering all my projects around me near at hand.

I'm using my Cubii most nights for 20 minutes or so while watching some bit of tv. Year 3 with this. I do believe it is helping to keep my legs strong. 
We watch a lot of BritBox and Masterpiece Theatre. I always like the way tea and a biscuit are offered in their shows no matter, seemingly, the circumstances....so civilized. Tony drinks several cups of tea a day but only has a treat with one. Often I will look for different biscuits like these I found in the international section at the big Walmart. The Fox's Crunch Creams have ginger in them and I like them too. Do you have a favourite small treat like this that goes well with tea or coffee you could recommend?
 Presently, we are working our way through Spooks which features Matthew MacFadyen; he looks so young, like a teenager in this series. Such a good actor and we were happy he won a Golden Globe for his work in Succession. 

Bad weather always looks worse through a window...so I'm dragging out my parka, retrieving my winter boots from the downstairs cloakroom, hauling on a tuque and Ned and I are heading out in the storm. 

Happy to link with Alycia Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, It's a Small Town Life, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, So Scrappy and A Quiltery.

Thursday, 9 February 2023

Free Patterns, Not Sewing This (For Now!), Monty Don, More Panama Pyramids

Older grandson, Jack, walking Neddy
This morning's walk with Neddy was accompanied by the sound of dozens of ravens cawing wildly. They very oddly seemed to move with us as we proceeded around the perimeter of the property. We were thankful all the while for the snowmobile run around Hubby did recently that flattened the trail making it far more walkable than it had been.  I kept a sharp eye on the ravens looking to see if they were chasing off a Barred Owl. But no owl was seen. One of my birder friends said this is mating time for the ravens so that may account for the massing together so early in the day.    
This is not the best photo; it was taken during a snow storm. I was aiming for the beak. Tony had questioned if the birds I've been calling ravens were not crows. It is all about the beaks and I think this beak proves my constant visitors are ravens.                                    
 With the arrival of a seeds catalogue this week, I remembered this guy below and how much I love his videos. This is the wonderful Monty Don who became a YouTube celebrity back during the pandemic. I 've always loved his message of not being afraid to be a bad gardener. Just give it all a go is his motto. Which I have tried to do and it is as he says... a very rewarding experience for little effort overall and even if you're not producing show winners, who the heck cares! 

I also like how he has been open about his years' long battle with depression.

 What I badly wanted to start but did not! Yes I stayed strong! I follow Rachel at Stitched in Color and absolutely love whatever she stitches. She has hit a delicate mark between vintage and modern that definitely speaks to me in both the patterns she chooses and fabric choices too.  I just loved her take on the very old fashioned Log Cabin block in a QAL she called Circus Cabin. The contrast between those very bright colours and the lights was very eye catching. Does this appeal to you too?

Thank you for all the interest/encouragement you showed my Lone Star Medallion attempt. There will need to be six of the large diamonds eventually, hopefully. I did cut out more of the diamonds and matched fabric last night. And I pulled out a few more of the EPP Panama Pyramids in pinks to snap a quick photo before continuing machine stitching together.  I will share these with the So Scrappy Saturday Pink Party. Sorry, didn't have the time to give them a press and how long have I been talking about this project??? Hubby spoke of it today by name; he's never been able to do that with any other of my projects!
 It seems my organization in the sewing room is lacking despite recent efforts to improve it. I'm still finding blocks/bits of blocks that were just tucked away. I need to purchase bigger tote boxes so I can keep it all in one place rather than two or three smaller ones. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was anything special we will do or have enjoyed for Valentine's Day. We don't celebrate it and never did. I don't remember it being a "thing" very much when I was growing up. On second thought, I've been reminded that we did share paper valentines that were cut out of a large book of valentines bought at a local 5 and dime store, Stedman's. On the night we would run from house to house leaving the valentines and giving a loud knock to let folks know we'd been.  I know I will enjoy reading about any of your special memories, meals, gifts, etc. 

Thursday's Free Three

From Wee Folk Art comes this adorable cardinal pattern to applique. Kimara shares lots of simple shapes to applique. And she has also provided a cache of links to over 350 free patterns/projects for stitching, knitting, crocheting, etc.  Wonderful winter reading!
Here's a neat take on the old Dresden fan kind of block. This one is called Friendship Fan Block and a free download is found at Nancy Cabot's Sewalong blog. Reprisal of a 1933 pattern. What a great scappy block! I can picture this one in modern day fabrics with a combination of solids and prints.
Our own blogging friend, Melissa, is offering more continual lovely free stitching patterns.  In This post, Melissa provides all the links to her Parade of Houses to cross stitch...including this one called Winter Manor; isn't that house blue a beautiful shade! DMC 317

She has included house designs for the months and all the occasions of the year. Thank you Melissa for the bounty of your gifts to us!

Folks asked....Daughter's chocolate cake with marshmallow frosting recipe can be found here..
And Napper or Not?  It appears to be just about an even split on whether you, dear readers, nap or not. And those of us who do not, so wishing we could. 










Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Thrifting Bargain, Cosy At Home, Birds, EPP Pyramids

 I have been busy. In particular helping drive older grandson to his work which takes a chunk of time out of the day. However, I've paired that chore with visits to the library, grocery store and shops too which works out well. That has also been an excuse to not keep up a few things around here. I've slacked off the cooking for instance and relied on some ready made meals from the grocery store; one a meatball pasta dish that was quite tasty. Today I walked the trails with my bungee poles for the first time in a week.  I feel like I need to get back into my old routine of activity, vegetable eating, etc. I have been up early and lighting the first fire of the day as always though.

 Last Sunday I took this photo of Tony's breakfast.  The weather outside was actually frightful-no joke, blowing and snowy though no weather warning for a change, just an advisory.  Making it all the more cosy inside.

I've been keeping the three feeders filled and the suet cakes out too. We are still being given the go to maintain feeders here. I use binoculars to watch the birds and have seen no sign of illness, in particular the eye disease that is affecting finches. I've never had finches here so maybe that's a good thing for now. Here the male Cardinal doesn't heed the Chickadee nailing a perfect landing. 
I went thrifting one day recently. Of course I found a few things...what a surprise! For instance, this mug I found amongst the discounted Christmas items, though it didn't jump out at me that it was for Christmas. 
It is marked Sears and though I don't need another mug, for $1.99 in perfect condition, I just had to buy it. The design with pomegranates and pinecones is so pretty.  Anyone else enjoy Happy Elephant tea?  Older daughter gave me  a collection and they are quite good. The blueberry is a favourite.

 Last of the panama pyramids in reds and pinks. Oh, how I've enjoyed the hand stitching of those little diamonds which you must be so tired of hearing about by now.😩
 I just had to stitch a few more which made me wonder am I addicted?  Tony laughed but I'm kind of serious.  Meanwhile I did not manage to get in the sewing room last week at all but am hopeful I will find time this week to get back to stitching the rows of these together. 

Several have asked... about my header photo which was taken of a panel on my coat I had made for me in the far north when I was teaching on Baffin Island. These figures were stitched by the local ladies who were Inuit and I'd asked for school children. I thought it sweet they added book bags as we called them when I was a kid. 

 Do check back on Thursday for this weeks' free patterns and quilty news.  I love sharing what I've enjoyed and think you will enjoy too. Such generous folks all over the world sharing their talents with us. 

Sharing this post with linky parties found at Quilt Schmilt. 

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Canadian Winter Fun, Panama Pyramids On The Wall

We did get snow on Thursday into Friday, about 7 inches or so. Here is a glimpse of Tony and Ned nearing the end of their snowy walk at the back of the house. Taken from our bedroom.

Tony is convinced his daily walks are benefitting his very good health.
Very post card beautiful with the sun on Saturday. Robbie was here skidooing which was fun. 

That fits in nicely with our present jigsaw puzzle. One of the Canadian Collection from Ravensburger featuring Canadian winter scenes.
I've begun joining all my scrappy EPP Panama Pyramids together. This arrangement below by Linda Collins was based on an antique quilt she owns, btw; I don't think I mentioned that before. Antique quilts are a special love of mine and I always enjoy checking out blogs that feature them like Michele's Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog and Nancy's Joy For Grace, to name just two. 
Anyway this is satisfying to see all these tiny pieced blocks coming together on the wall-lined up a bit haphazardly though. I'm going to stay with the yellow, a change from what would be my usual choice of a more neutral color. Though someone did tell me that yellow can be considered a neutral choice.
 It's time I stopped second guessing every choice I make and just go with it.  I'm tired of all the hemming and humming I do, seriously. It's not like anything I sew will ever be in a show or whatever. This latest hang up was because I had bought online a pretty mossy green that arrived just in time to make me second guess the yellow. It would have suited well but it will keep for another project. 
I'm continuing to work on both my two old projects this week...the other being Tiny Trees. 

I know I'm not the only Just Get It Done Quilts fan.  Karen has been posting a daily decluttering video for the month of January, a great way to start the new year. It inspired me to do further sorting and organizing even though I don't have that much stuff in the sewing room. But it always seems to benefit from a dig through. Here is her Day 1 and I find all her tips so useful and doable too.

Just in case your thoughts are "springing" ahead, Krista shares this wonderful free tutorial for a lovely spring like quilt Here at her blog, Krista Moser The Quilted Life. Sew Charming uses charm packs -so easy.

A little question for you Do you know what a Flight of Tea is???
I get lots of questions and one of these days I'll write a post where I answer them. 
Hope this January week is going great for you whether you are having to eat ice cream fast before it melts like Jenny in New Zealand or having to bundle up to keep warm on your walks like hubby and me. 
Happily linking with The Quilt Schmilt.


Wednesday, 28 December 2022

Blizzards, Christmas Time, Finishing Quilts

 Thank you all for the well wishes leading up to our storm that yes indeed, we did get. There was snow and blowing snow, then rain which was really weird, then back to a blizzard like I'd never seen here in Ontario. 

And it kept up for over three days! 

We were fortunate to not have a power outage though lots of folks did. We did have a little drama when our propane tank ran dry...a computer glitch about refills at the company office, and they sent a chap out here at 10:30 at night to fill our tank. Thankfully the major roads were mostly cleared by then. The fellow that came was so nice, even stayed with Tony to make sure our furnace was working well before he left. I am unsure what to do in situations like that- to tip or not I mean. It being Christmas, we did and I was happy- he seemed surprised but then very grateful. 

It was a lovely Christmas with my tiny family insisting of coming here for the Christmas Eve present exchange so we didn't have to brave the weather. They brought the drinks and food, nibbling things and hors-d'oeuvres.  

Then the bigger gathering including in laws at Daughter's for the feast was the next day. This year's meal included seafood-crab and scallops. All so delicious. I overate and I topped it off by having two pieces of cake...I figured what the heck, it's my 71st Christmas! Daughter had made a deep chocolate cake with a candy cane marshmallow frosting. The combination was irresistible to me. Robbie even said to me I knew you were going to like that Nana. :D

Another shake up in the sewing room accompanied by the sound of wind howling outside the window. Again with the never ending scrap sorting.  This latest sorting by colours. About half way through here. On the upside I came across lots of scraps for the Pyramids and also more large enough for the Trees project.

 7
A review of Panama Pyramids- yes I have enough to proceed with sewing it all together. There are now 120 blocks done, all with EPP; that's a lot of tiny hand stitches. Am I completely mad, LOL. Here are the last three batches I finished, on the wall to see what they look like together. BTW, the original plan was to match these blocks to the monthly RSC but that fell by the wayside. 
I've chosen a yellow to alternate triangles with these. Though there are a number of Panama Pyramid quilts around the web using that colour, I will have to try it out to see if it works for me. 
Then I'd love to have those triangles all cut and ready to sew by machine this week. 

Ned is now allowed walks on the lead which is good for me. It's not as much fun to walk alone I found out. 
Thank you for all the lovely Christmas messages! I am so thankful for this wonderful supportive blogging community of ours! And you all enjoy this time now till the next big day. 
Linking up with Texas Quilt Gal and I'd like to thank Linda for her wonderful hosting of the To Do party. And a big thank you also to Carol at Quilt Schmilt who is taking over. 

Thursday, 3 November 2022

Three Free Patterns, Cross Stitching Birds, Pumpkin Crunch Cake, Panama Pyramids EPP

We both got our bivalent vaccine booster shots on Monday and both had a sore arm but, thankfully, no other effects. At this point where there seems to be a smorgasborg of viruses circulating, I don't know if it will be a help or not. Lots of talk of a bad flu happening here though too. 

Leeanna's Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was to share our favourite pumpkin recipe. I shared this dump cake recipe in this post back in 2019 because it was just so good and the perfect cake for autumn. As you know, I'm not a big sweets lover but this cake was irresistible to me. The recipe is from Karly at Buns in My Oven and she called it Pumpkin Crunch Cake. It calls for simple ingredients; I used the whole cake mix and it filled a 9 x 13 pan.  Through kitchen chemistry, it ends up having a crunchy layer and a custard layer on the bottom. 

                    

Just wondering if you have a favourite recipe featuring pumpkin??? It's not a flavour I particularly like all on its own. 

I've managed to spend a little quiet time this week cross stitching.  A couple of birds sitting atop thistles emerging on Autumn Quakers. 

And in real life, the Dark Eyed Juncos are back from their northern summer breeding grounds.  Small flocks of them have been foraging all over the gardens and under the feeders. I will see them off and on throughout the winter.

I'm plugging away on my Panama Pyramids. I'm not at all tiring of the EPP and I hope you are not bored seeing them.  And I am liking how, by setting a goal of 7 - 10 or so blocks a month, they are adding up. Overall it doesn't seem I'm really working on this project. And it gives me a chance to raid the scrap pile. 

Do you like my fuzzy socks?

Thursday's Free Three

I'm happy to share this pattern called Liberty & Flowers. It's really versatile and is pictured in a number of colourways over at Suzy Quilts. There is lots to explore in Suzy's bank of free patterns and also simple free motion tutorials as well. So much to see that I've signed up for the newsletter.

Also this small pattern below I want to try. Halloween behind us now so it's the extra special time of year to start thinking about. Suzy calls this her Stars Hollow Christmas Tree ornament. 

If you would like to improve your embroidery skills, Trish Burr offers a page of patterns to download to practise various stitches.  Found Here Trish is an amazing embroiderer specializing in full coverage pieces made with needle painting. For years, I've had my eye on that pattern on the left bottom- the little girl feeding the chickens. I love it. She has lots of tutorials too.  

 I found this YouTube video of Trish teaching how to make the long and short stitches needed for full coverage embroidery.
Helen at this post White Wood and Linen shares photos and directions to make special angel wings ornaments/decorations. 

And you can find loads of free wing templates here....Angel Wings Templates. With an added embroidered word...name, etc. these could be very special gifts.

It's been a productive week here at the wooden house with several loads of firewood stacked, appointments kept, library books picked up, and a birthday celebration.  With continued sunshine and warming up during the days, our garden is golden still. I'm enjoying it all very much.
 Hope your weekend will be wonderful!