Do we really have to leave?!

Who's out there!!!

It is hard to believe that we will be leaving for the north country in a couple of weeks.  We keep asking ourselves where has the time gone, has it really been over 5 months?? Well guess it has for in another couple of weeks we'll be leaving.  What is really bad - snow is still falling in Edmonton as I type this little blog, and there's plenty on the ground. It has been a bad year for snow. It is rather depressing if one thinks about it too long.  It's been pretty much a given that we will be dealing with another six weeks of winter once we return....ugh!!  Our little girls with fur coats will lose their freedom to run about the yard with reckless abandon, barking at everything they see and don't see.  The neighbours will be happy to see the patrol dogs "gone".   The picture that you see on the left is a picture that a lady painted for me.  I thought she did a wonderful job.  The points of interest in the picture itself are locally around Yuma, which give it significance.  I'm hoping that next fall when we are down she'll be able to do a couple more pictures.

Sonya and Wilf

Paul has a couple of sisters that have come down to Yuma.  Sonya and Wilf was here for a couple of days.  It was great to see them, today they were heading over to Tucson and then on up to Phoenix area.  His other sister, Penny and husband Gary are staying in a RV Park not too far away.  I'm hoping to get a picture of them before they leave.  In the next day or two, Penny's son Curtis and wife Karen will be arriving, it will be good to see them.  It is always good to see family.

Frilly Scarves

It would definitely take a while to catch up the blog as to what has been happening this past winter.  Meant to write 2 or 3 blogs while being here, but it just never happened.  Paul has been busy with golf, and he went into Phoenix a few times for hockey games and a car show.  We've only been to Mexico once this year.  We usually go at least twice, unfortunately not this year.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our "new" to us home.  Especially since this winter was much cooler than we've ever experienced in the evening and mornings and a house certainly is much warmer to live in than an RV.

Rhinestone Art

For myself, clogging and my crafts have certainly kept me busy.  This winter has probably been one of the more "crafty" type of winters that I've had, completed two quilt tops, knitted 10 frilly scarves, made  2 table runners, cool placemats, gadget bags, rhinestone art on tee shirts (that is fun!), card making and a project in progress which will be the focus of my attention for the next several months and will be the main topic for the remainder of this blog.

Screen Shot of shapes in software

At the moment I've been working on an applique quilt, Fiesta de Talavera, designed by J. Michelle Watts.  This quilt is a stunning piece of art.  Saw the pattern and became totally smitten by it's beauty.  The challenge of this quilt, of course, is that it is applique which quite often is done by hand, but for me I had to think of another way that it could be done and still look beautiful. I can't imagine anyone doing the hand applique technique, it would take absolutely forever!! So, this is where the Silhouette Cameo (die cutting machine) has been put into good use which by the way is doing an excellent job of cutting out the shapes, making all the shapes exactly the same.  With the aid of a scanner, the layout of the pieces have been make into a .jpg file which is then brought into the Silhouette software and by using the drawing tools I've been able to make the templates of the designs on the block and save the designs as cut files.

Fabric ready to be cut out

pieces cut out

 These files are then sent to the Silhouette Cameo via the computer. Pieces of fabric which has been bonded with 'Steam a Seam' sheets are laid onto the Silhouette cutting mat which is then placed into the Silhouette Cameo to be cut out. This process is repeated until all the shapes are cut out for the block.

Block 2 - all pieces laid out.

Block 2 - First stages

Once all the pieces are cut out, they are arranged as indicated by the block template layout that is provided in the pattern.  Each block finished size is 20 inches square and has anywhere between 90 to 130 applique pieces.  It is addictive as you begin placing the pieces creating this little master piece.  Once you are satisfied with placement and it looks good, then you take a hot iron and begin fusing the pieces to the block fabric, being very careful not to disturb the layout.  Once the fusing is completed, then the fun really begins.  Each piece must be sewn down.  Most machine applique consist of a small zig-zag stitch, being careful not to have the stitches too close together which would create a satin stitch appearance.  A bit of planning needs to be done as to where the stitching will begin, requiring the background pieces of each of the design components to be stitched first and the top design pieces to be stitched last, not entirely sure if that makes sense.

Block 1- completed

Block 1 is completed with the stitching, it does take a bit of time, i.e. a couple of evenings.  A decision has been made to take the blocks home and do the stitching on my 830, it has a huge throat space the machine can be dropped so the work surface is flat.  There will be nine blocks in total that need to be done along with a border is very ornate and it will take a while to do. The quilt itself finished will be 72"x72".  In the past, have done some pretty time intensive quilts but I do believe this will be the most demanding of any.  I will keep posting the blocks as they are completed.


Just one last little picture of a bug that was crawling around on a Oleander bloom the other day.  Really quite weird looking.  After I snapped a few pictures I think he got fed up and left.  Was kind of wondering if he was of preying mantis family.  Probably not, huh.

It is time to run along, so until next time...here is a sweet little pansy face from our flower garden.