Stitching the pieces together

Alyson

Chrissy you got in first Barbe why are you selling and where are you moving too? 

Many places in NZ do not allow fires in houses, some allow wood burners but not other fuels. As Smaarty says its to do with the cold pushing the polluted air down and this causes asthma and other health problems.

I must start sewing again soon. Just haven't been up to it the last couple of weeks.

barbe1958

We live in a "condo" home that has maintenance fees. When we first bought, they told us it included the club house with the pools and everything so it seemed worth it. Yes, they cut our grass and weed and trim our gardens, but they don't shovel the snow - though they do windows!! (outside) Anyway, the fees go up every year and soon it will be like paying two mortgages!!! It is stressing me out and my DH is still just working seasonal. I thought he would get bored with that and get a full-time job. It is very hard when he is off...I am so sick of worrying about money!! We will move west into Southwestern Ontario where the house prices are very, very cheap compared to everywhere else. We can get a cute Victorian (reno'd) for $175,000 or less!!!! Taxes seem to be about the same as here, but the job market is very strong in the London area. I even have a job interview tomorrow in the middle of our house hunt!!

Enerva

Barbe I wish you good luck I know exactly how you feel. I myself am in the same situation. I will sell next year and move toward London or north. It's crazy the condo fees is like two mortgages. Fingers crossed for your job interview. 

I am so sick of my fees, plus all the bills and been off arts just brutal. Sending you hugs 

barbe1958

Thanks Enerva, we are looking London and south of London to catch the better winters and earlier springs. (Why do we capitalize Spring but not winter? Because spring has another meaning, like Fall? I guess so. Glad I cleared that up.) We saw houses last week where people had CACTUSES in their outdoor gardens!!! I was amazed!!! The agent told me that area is known as the Banana Belt as it is along Lake Erie and has lake-effect conditions.

Enerva

wow, nice lol 

Hope you find a dream place soon.

I will search for next spring, I hope.

MelissaDallas

Here's the top I'm almost ready to sandwich.

MelissaDallas

I have the borders on it now. They are the darker solid blue.

Wren44

Just gorgeous!

Smaarty

very nice Melissa. Is it full or queen size? You quilt your own? I used to quilt by check, but she moved out of state. 

chrissyb

Oh Barbe what you are paying for fees seems really high!  I can certainly see why you want to move and it's always good to go where prices are low and job markets high.  Sending good luck vibes to you and hope it all comes together nicely for you!

Melissa that top is stunning!  With the darker blue border I can imagine that it truly just pops!  Can't wait to see a pic of the finished quilt.

I must get down to my sewing room and make this elastic belt for my niece.  Her other Aunt bought her a pair of jeans plus some other bits and pieces but couldn't find a belt that was appropriate for a seven year old so I said I would make one using elastic and different fine ribbons.  The ribbons are stitched on the elastic as it is stretched so that it looks frilly and using different widths and colours the effect is quite pretty and more age appropriate than anything I have seen in the stores.......but must get my but down there and do it! 

barbe1958

Melissa, that is just SO pleasing of a colour blend!! You used your "focus" fabric well to pull those accent colours out. And a dark border will just frame the whole thing nicely. Well done, you!!!!

Chrissy, do jeans really need a belt? That just sounds like too much work....

chrissyb

Barbe they do if you are seven and have a decent sized boodie and no waist.......lol.

barbe1958

Alyson

Have had a couple of weeks of severe RA but it has positives because when I am in pain I knit or sew to keep my mind off the pain. So here is the jersey I have made for my DGS. Just have some more stitching on the engines. 

Thomas on the front and James and the Fat Controller ( you lot don't call him that). Have also made one for my cousin's DGS but I didn't do James. 

Wren44

That is just adorable. My GS would have loved it when they were into Thomas. Thomas comes to the town in Oregon where they live and I have ridden on the train behind Thomas.

Smaarty

very cute sweater. You are very talented.

barbe1958

VERY impressive Alyson!!! My grandson Thomas would love it.....!!!!

chrissyb

Wow Aly!  That is fantastic!  Love seeing it all finished........there is going to be one very excited little boy when he receives that from his Granny!!!

LindaLou53

Finally had time to work on a quick little quilt I have been wanting to do!  It is a basic 3 fabric pattern but I like the way it turned out!  Reminds me of a picnic quilt with the red and white!   Planning to gift it to a special family member!  

MelissaDallas

Linda, 

i like your quilt a lot. Very pretty!

Alyson, what a cute swewter!

JAN69

Linda      OMG  That quilt is beautiful!!!!!  I love your quilt!  You have together a beautiful floral with the 2 solids; very well chosen.

I guess I'll never post pictures as no one who knows how seems to have time to show me.  But some of you might remember that I've been making lap quilts for a sick kids camp here in California.  Two weeks ago I delivered 37 lap quilts that I made for the camp.  I want to work on some of my own quilts for a while.  Right now I'm making a dresden plate collage.  Fun to be free to design.  I'll make more camp quilts later.  Happy Stitching  Jan

Smaarty

love the quilt. It will be great at picnics.

Wren44

I love the quilt. So bright and cheerful. I should make one for our bedroom which is dark and dreary.

Alyson, The sweater was so cute. Do you make up your patterns or was it published somewhere?

chrissyb

Linda that quilt is just lovely!!  Do you do your own quilting?  I so want to do more of my own but I think I need a whole lot more practice.  Love the fabrics you have used.

LindaLou53

Thanks all!  Yes, Chrissyb I do my own quilting on my little Brother domestic sewing machine.  It is harder to do on larger sized quilts but I am getting better at FMQ with practice and learning to be more creative!

LindaLou53

9 hours ago JAN69 wrote:

"Linda OMG That quilt is beautiful!!!!! I love your quilt! You have together a beautiful floral with the 2 solids; very well chosen.

I guess I'll never post pictures as no one who knows how seems to have time to show me. But some of you might remember that I've been making lap quilts for a sick kids camp here in California. Two weeks ago I delivered 37 lap quilts that I made for the camp. I want to work on some of my own quilts for a while. Right now I'm making a dresden plate collage. Fun to be free to design. I'll make more camp quilts later. Happy Stitching Jan"

Thanks Jan!  To post a picture, just make sure you know where the picture you want to upload is stored on your computer.  When you make your post, type what you want then select the little picture icon from the post menu bar. (It looks like a framed picture). A window will open asking you to insert the image by browsing your computer to locate the photo you want to insert or to enter the URL address of a photo online you want to share.  Just click the insert button after you have located your photo. 

barbe1958

Lindalou, what a JOYOUS quilt!!!! Rare to see a quilt that just screams PARTAY!!!! 

Jan, posting pics is one of the hardest things to do!! I can do it sometimes and not other times. The picture icon everyone talks about is the 8th box over on the top of your comment box. Inside that pop-up you have to click on LINK and then you can browse to find where you have stored your pic, or just PASTE if you have already copied the URL from somewhere else. Some pics you can just copy and paste and others you have to copy the URL, not the pic to get it to work. It IS confusing....

MelissaDallas

Oh, the flesh is weak...just bought more fabric with birthday money...pineapple quilt class next month. Wont this be pretty?

Wren44

Can't wait to see the finished product. Should be gorgeous!

barbe1958

STUNNING!!!!!! That should be an amazing quilt, you made brilliant choices!!!