Wheeze On...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I was super excited last night with some of the things I have been able to accomplish of late.  Since moving I have somehow been able to keep fresh fruit and vegetables cut up ready for lunches in the refrigerator.  Have soups, casseroles, bread, and other baked goods ready for lunches, and other foods prepped and ready for dinner when I get home.  Then I do a bit of house tidy every evening.  Have somehow managed to stay on top of laundry at all times.  Dog is walked on the community trails and although that takes time I have NO backyard clean up.

After my "Adulting" occurs I spend a bit of time in my craft room and am starting to make some obvious progress on some of my TO DO pile of crafts.

One of these is the 2016 (not a typo) 52 Week Block Challenge Hosted by A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop.  Last evening I placed out all 52 blocks...yes there are only 49 in the picture....there is a reason:

TAH DAH!!!

Then I started to sew the blocks and rows together with the intent that I would really have SOMETHING to show you all this evening:

Well.....thanks to spending a good part of today in my favourite Emergency Department due to an asthma attack....this is as far as I got yesterday evening.  I am planning to head out in the morning for a bit and get a border fabric, binding and backing as tomorrow is Local Quilt Shop Day.  "Sew" of course I will be hitting up a couple of my favourite shops.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the 

BEST Day EVER Saturday tomorrow.  🎉

Kathy

"Sew" Much To Do

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas with family and friends and got to do a bit of crafty stuff too!

No blogging here for the past two weeks as "Sew" Much going on.

We returned home last night after going home to Saskatchewan for a bit.  Of course that was wonderful except for the -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) the evening before we returned.  I did drive through a snow storm to get there and one on the way back too!

On the way back we stopped in  Saskatoon and went to Sew Charming Crafts.  Now of course I went there to see what was there but I also went there to pick up.........

The entire set of the Kim Diehl Simple Whatnots 8 Block of the Month.  This is apparently the only shop in Western Canada carrying the program.  There was a lot of thought that went into my getting this Block of the Month because unfortunately this quilt shop does not ship so there was no way for me to avoid the Provincial Sales Tax (PST).  YIKES, is all I can say.  I could have ordered it through the US fabric shops but would have had to wait til I head down to get the mail and of course there is cost involved with that....sigh.  

Today I pulled out my scraps and completed the last 6 Star Blocks for the 2016 Star Block Weekly Quilt Block Challenge hosted by A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop:

Maybe I can get these put together in to some form of a quilt before the New Year????

It snowed here most of the day, but the temperature was nice so I took the dog on an extra long walk this morning through one of the local park/recreation areas.  The park looked amazing with the snow falling:

Wishing you all the BEST Day Ever Sunday tomorrow, and 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

The Whole Enchilada...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

During our recent move I learned from a very dear friend about the amazing Hello Fresh boxes!  These boxes are fabulous because you pre-order your food choices a week in advance and your food is delivered in cool pack boxes.  All the ingredients are in the box along with recipes.  These were FABULOUS during the move because I did not have to think about what was for dinner and then there were left overs for lunch the next day too ☺

Since the move I still get a box every couple of weeks or so just to break up the dinner routine and just for ease of dinner prep.

The box arrived this afternoon and the first meal that we made was Chicken Cheese Enchilada's.  Delicious.  Another thing I love about these boxes is that the cooking instructions are step by step so I get my son to help with dinner prep as well.  

Served with a garden salad these were very filling on a really cold evening.

After dinner I spent a wee bit of time in my craft room and made block 46 of 52 for the 52 week block challenge (this is the 2016 block - I seem to have mis placed my 2017 blocks):

TAH DAH!!!

I love these blocks.  They always turn out well and just look so pretty.

Keep warm, and 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Simple Saturday...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was a perfectly simple day.  I did run one errand but other than that we just hung out at home. 

I am on a mission right now to "Eat the House".  No, I have not suddenly developed a craving for soft wood, but rather eat up some of what I have stored.  As you may have noticed I have not done any canning this year as we still have several jars of pickles and jams.

For lunch today we had Tuna, Apple and Avocado salad sandwiches with Tzatziki seasoning.  Delicious.  I will try these again:

After inventory of the freezer and pantry dinner was poached salmon with honey mustard and fresh dill sauce, jasmine rice with fresh garden chives, roasted garlic and sage mushrooms and a Caesar salad: 

Delicious as well and there are left overs for tomorrow 🐟.

After dinner kiddo and I headed out to explore a part of the River Valley that we previously have not been to.  It was amazing what we found.  A perfect stream that kiddo and dog had a blast in:

I even allowed for dog to be off leash for a bit because there was no one and no other dogs around. 

Throughout the day I spent some time with my scrap fabrics and made 2 of each of the past three years of weekly challenge blocks that I have gotten VERY far behind on:

LOVE how these look.  Especially the Star Block that I used star fabrics for the whole block.  ⋆😼.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Use What Ya Got.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

As you likely guessed.....I have been BUSY lately.  "Sew" much "sew" that I did not have time to "sew" or really do anything crafty.

Tonight I decided that I would spend a bit of time in my craft room and do a bit of quilting.  Without dragging out a whole bunch of supplies I decided to use what I had access to; a 1911 Red Eye Singer, 1 spool of Aurafil thread, a rotary cutter, scrap fabrics and a 6x24" ruler.  Here is my newest 52 Week Star Block Challenge....which block.....not sure...

Quite a labour intensive project as all seams were held in place and pressed with my fingers.  Proud of myself though as my seams almost all line up.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Week 37!

Good Late Evening Internet Friends!

DO NOT re-set your clocks or calendars!  

Now that I have my 2015 Churn Dash Block Challenge hosted by A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop I am motivated to get my 2016, and 2017 versions of these quilts done.

Meet Block 37 of the Star Block Challenge from 2016:

TAH DAH!!!

I am choosing to focus on one task at a time now to try and get caught up on these projects "sew" wish me luck.......the long weekend will be here and gone before we know it.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Block 36...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

"Sew"  I have "sew" many cool things in my craft room just waiting for me embark or complete them and that is what I am setting about doing.

This year I am still focusing on taking care of ME first and then others.  Now that my 2015 52 week block challenge quilt has been returned to me and I have had it quilted I am feeling motivated to complete my other 52 week block challenge quilts.

This is Block 36 of my 2016 52 week block challenge quilt:

TAH DAH!!!  Yet again another pretty completed completely from the scrap fabric pile.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Distracted Catch Up

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Out and about again with my son today.  The weather was warm again so it made for a wonderful time outside.

This evening I planned on making more of the Flock of Geese Blocks, but since I had the perfect scraps for a Star Block I made a Star Block for the quilt I should have finished a year ago:

Not sure which block this will be in the sequence but let me assure you that I am still well below 52 Blocks for this quilt as well.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap"....It's Monday...

Good Late Evening Internet Friends.

I have three scrap quilt projects on the go right now.  Seriously.

"Sew" this evening after kiddo went to bed I spent a few minutes in my craft room and made another Star Scrap Block for a Quilt that I started almost 2 years ago:

Not sure what number of the series this block is but quite proud that another has been made 😊😎

I really do enjoy making these 6 1/2" blocks. 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Star Block 33

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Almost 2 years ago I started this weekly Star Block Quilt Challenge with the intent of making a quilt using only my scrap fabric.

There are to be 52 blocks for this quilt; one for each week of the year.

As of right now......I have block 33 completed.....

TAH DAH!!!!

Maybe I can get this one completed by the end of the year.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mouse Trap...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It has been a crazy busy weekend and this is the first time since Saturday evening that I have spent any time at all in my craft room.

I have the privilege in living in an older neighborhood and that means big yards with mature trees.  It also means that when the city does remember that we also pay taxes and our infrastructure needs repair they spend all summer digging up the area.  One of the side effects of that was the disturbance of a bzillion mice!!!!  

The pesky critter(s) have made their way into my house!  I CANNOT stand mice.  I have tried every device from the home improvement store and nothing worked other than the tri-fold glue tent that the mouse got partly stuck in so took it with him!  I am missing a glue trap and there were disgusting tiny glue foot prints all across the floor until I lost the trail on a different flooring surface.

Very early Monday morning I decided that I need to resort to the only effective solution to mouse control.  

The smallest one was Madeline, she was not afraid of mice.  

Meet Madeline, named after one of my favorite book characters who is not afraid of mice.

We brought Madeline home last night.  Almost immediately she was tracking and she has spent a ridiculous amount of time investigating the sump pump area of the basement where I thought the entry portal for the critters might just be.  She has been in the house just over 24 hours and I as SUPER pleased to say........no signs of mice 🐭 

That meant that this evening I could spend some time in my craft room and make:

Another block for the Star Block Challenge that I started almost 2 years ago!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

"Sew" Much Fun!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today I attended the  Black Gold Quilt Patch Guild - Quilt Show 2017.  

It was "sew" much fun to see all the beautiful quilts and fibre art displays and meet with so many amazing quilters.  

This evening I am quite tired from all my socializing, but I did spend a wee bit of time in my craft room and made:

Another of the star blocks that should have been finished two years ago!!!🙌🙌🎉

TAH DAH!!!

Now possibly a bit of knitting before I fall asleep as I promised to go back tomorrow and meet more people!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Star Block

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Well, back to work today!

This evening I only had a bit of time to spend in my craft room, but I did manage to make another Star Block for the Star Block Challenge from A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop {it's last year's challenge - I think I am on the remedial plan}:

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Block 19 ☺

Good Evening Internet Friends!

In between all my responsibilities this evening I found a wee bit of time to spend in my craft room ☺

I made Block 19 of my Star Block Challenge:

TAH DAH!

Now I need to go get everything organized for the hustle out the door tomorrow morning...

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday FUN!!!!

Good Late Evening Internet Friends!

The first work week after vacation is over!  It's been a long one some how.

This evening after dinner I spent some time in my craft room finishing up a few things.

First off I needed to make a couple of birthday cards:

Both very different styles, but fun to make.

Then I cleaned up some of my scrap fabric on my sewing desk and made Star Block 16 for my Star Block Challenge Quilt from A Needle Pulling Thread:

A few people have already finished their quilts and I have made it to Block 16!  Doh!!!  Maybe I can finish last year and this years quilts at the same time!!!  

Then I assembled the cut pieces for Block 20 of my Scandi 3 Quilt:

One more block in this colour way and then I can start the final 4 blocks of the last colour way of this fabric.  I do love this fabric.  There is something so simply beautiful about it ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Almost There...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It's almost the weekend!!!  Only one more day of work.  I always feel exhausted the weeks in which I work 5 days, must be getting old......

As for crafting this week there has only been minimal knitting.  This evening after taking both cars out to fill with petroleum (reportedly the price will be going up), getting groceries, making dinner, dishes, vacuuming and two loads of laundry I did manage to make:

TAH DAH!!!!

Now to go get lunches prepped for tomorrow and make sure that laundry is ready ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

It's Raining...It's Pouring...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Woke up to the rain that had been forecast this morning.  Kid and I decided it was a day to just stay in doors and home!  That is exactly what we did!

We had oatmeal with fresh blueberries for breakfast and watched Saturday morning cartoons while we ate it.

Then I decided to make Cottage Cheese Dill bread (used the last of the left over cottage cheese in the refrigerator) for lunch:

While the dough was rising I decided that I would clean the living room; dust and orange oil the blinds, wash the windows and sills, dust and wood oil the furniture, oil the leather furniture, vacuum everywhere and wood wash the floors!  My son thought I was nuts and so he decided to "escape.  I suggested he might want to clean his room before I decided to clean it....well, this is what occurred...

Budderball is still wearing his leis.

The bread turned out great:

After lunch I spent the time cleaning up the craft room and organizing things.

Right now I am working on the Star Block Challenge from A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop.  I think it is week 23 currently so today I made Block 3 (a little behind I know).  The good news is that these blocks go together fairly quickly and I organized my scraps into one space for these blocks today:

I love these challenge quilts because they are easy enough to not get overwhelmed with when you work, have extracurricular activities for both you and kid, have a husband who works away from home 2 weeks at a time, and have all the mundane things like dinner, lunches and laundry to deal with.  The quilts are always really pretty and that makes me happy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy