Best/Worse/what did I learn today!chat with friends old/new

Oh Debbie sure sounds like a rough day. Take your "Me" time, you have certainly earned it. Give careful consideration to all advice. Get more opinions, don't be rushed into any decisions. Talk it over with those you trust. I'm not talking from any experience here, just gut feelings.

Oh Betty, my tree skirt arrived today. It is just beautiful! I will reimburse for postage of course, now tell me what I can pay or give you for your materials and time? I LOVE it!

Ended up with 10 inches of snow here yesterday!!! If it snows much more I won't be able to see out the windows!!! We are in a garden apartment (Windows are just above ground level) and the snow is piling up!!! Can't see too much except sky and tree branches!!! At least I know if it is cloudy or sunny....

Played with fabrics and puzzles yesterday and enjoyed the day away from sewing and housework. Sometimes I need to lose myself in a puzzle or something like that when I know Norm is on the roads in the storms.... He got home safe and sound.
Today will be a sewing day again I think...

Holding you close in my heart Debbie that all will be well...

Sounds like the dogs are really enjoying the snow Dianne. Did you find your chocolate???

Your tree skirt came out great Karen. Have you done any of Sondra's other patterns? I have three of them here. Must dig them out and see what I can do with them? One of them had chocolate in the name and that intrigues me....

This message was edited Feb 19, 2014 8:05 AM

Morning all,

wow, got home was in bed by 6 and here I am, whole night lost..

calling for a lot of rain tomorrow , flooding expected..high winds..sure hope temps don't drop too quickly as to give us freezing rain.

Glad it arrived Joyce and that you like it

Well we are suppose to get to 83 today...bright beautiful sun shining at the moment. My yard is calling my name!!!! Alas so is the house and laundry.

Sitting in the eye docs office with Gord. Routine visit for him, but he is given drps, so, he can't. Drive, it's a day out for us, this guy has a FULL office, so, we'll be rady for lunch.

Debbie good news re cysts as opposed to lumps. Will they be drained?
Good re the thorough follow up.

Will look at the link when I get home Betty, souunds thrilling!

Weather alert here, to get 8-10 inches of snow starting tomorrow!
Yesterday and today r just a tease.

Take care all

M

Barb, Sondra is so way ahead of me in skill level, I never tried one of her patterns before. I did this tutorial because she had an easier method than the book I bought. I did use the pattern pieces from the book and made my own templates to cut the pieces. I can honestly say, I'm glad I made this one but really glad it is done.
I've had the Dresden Plate tree skirt mostly done for some time but totally lost on how to quilt it. I'll make my self get back to thinking on it now. My big problem with it ...it's my invention. I'm good at following directions but lost when left to my own devices.

Morning all,

Marion/Marion, shaking my fingers here, are you not suppose to be taking it easy?

I'm different Karen, directions are not my things but if I look at something likely I can figure it out.

Debbie, are you roadrunning today, treating yourself..it's sunshine here so hoping it's the same in your neck of the woods..

"M" know we complain about the snow but not so sure I want all the rain they are calling for. Let's hope Gord gets a good report.

was up early this a.m., heard Rita going downstairs, know she was upset so I went down and had coffee with her..took a few photo's on the tote bag incase someone wants to make one..if you do let me know otherwise I'll not post and bore everyone with photo's

Please post them Betty, we love seeing your projects. Who knows, you may give us some inspirations to make one!

Betty, no I am not suppose to take it easy just certain things I am to refrain doing. ie: climbing ladders to paint and wall paper at the top of the list. That is done so no problem! The hardest thing I need to do is to learn to sleep without folding up my arms at night.....that does the most damage according to the Neurologist. Hard, hard habit to break after sleeping curled up on my side for as long as I can remember.

I feel bad for Rita about the house offer. What a bummer for her....must admit it would be nice having a room mate like her. Yes, I have Kim but our interest regarding crafts run into very different areas....she is into jewelry making in addition to her cake hobby. I so miss my quilting friends from Gainesville but alas life goes on.

Good morning,

Yes, going out for a bit of fresh air. Is 42 already....and sunshine. Sure hope it stays around, but the flip side is already flood warnings for nearby for the weekend....and another freeze on the weekend!!!

no way I can keep up with you ladies
Bob's first week at work was fine - eventful, and Information Overload lol
yesterday he brought the company truck home, and detailed the heck out of it - it's much cleaner now!!
I'm going for a "turn up for an interview" type of interview today... turns out it's about 15 or so blocks from where Bob's working...

Love & Prayers for everyone!

Holy Smokes Betty!!! You certainly can pack a wee box full. Thank you, Thank you, I'll send postage right away.

Good luck on the interview Susan!

No postage necessary..one day it might be I who is in need of something..glad it got there

know I posted and commented on last posts..having internet issues guess my posts are floating their way to your homes..lol

Debbie, hope you are enjoying a sunshine day..

have a few photo's for those who might attempt a tote bag..
the bag has front and inside pockets and a drawstring for those who fill their bags to the brim lol

pattern calls for 2 pieces cut 18 x 22" for main bag body, cut 2 linings same size

as you can see below I've sewn 5" blocks of scrap blocks for both front and back 5 blocks across and 4 rows will give you slightly a bag a few inches larger but I find I like the finished bags better.

Once you make the panel and have batting attached, sew along the blocks as shown

then cut out a 2 1/2" square out of bottom corners as shown on both panels

Now we need to do the front pocket..if you prefer the 2 small pockets as in the pattern I can take photo and give you dimensions

After all the bags I did the previous way I decided to change it to this type of front pocket

Width is the same size as bag width, the depth of the pocket is approx 9"

Because I wanted the fold down on the pocket I believe I did sew 3 pieces of fabric together..brown approx 7" by width of bag, then the green pattern which will be my band 8" by width of bag and then 3rd piece (can use same brown or any scrap)..sew lengthwise which now makes a tub width of your bag. I cut a piece of batting same size as tube width and depth and inserted it into the tube, folded the pattern green to make the pocket fold.


Likely I'm not explaining it right but I can take a photo for you

I now place the pocket panel across the front bag panel approximately 1 1/2 inch above the 2 1/2 " corner cuts

so now you want to sew across the bottom of the of the pocket width wise

then sew both sides

Now you can divide the pocket in 3 by making a stitch seam from bottom to top making individual pockets within the pock

put front/back together and sew sides together

now sew bottom

now open the bag so that you can sew the corners - open and join, seam to seam

Doing the happy dance, Rita got a call, place is hers...
So happy for her!

That's wonderful!!!! Love the tote......

Oh the tote is so cool! Wish I sewed!

Yay Rita! You will miss her for sure, Betty. How far away will she be?

Thanks for the tote info Betty!

Congrats to Rita!

Will continue inside tote, pockets to it, handles, closure etc..

Sitting for a bit..Rita is celebrating, Ann,June,Melanie have been and are coming back..guess there is a party going on. Lol

no interview - just took my resume........ I went to the address listed on the job ad, and they said it was actually somewhere else - further 10 min drive. So, went there and took the resume to the boss. He said "thank you - we'll be getting in touch with you". I could have emailed the resume in.......
I'd made it up into a "package" and everything.....
I also don't think I'll get the job because of a language barrier - everyone was speaking Punjabi or Farsi or something..... and only spoke English to me. I gather I wouldn't "fit in" ....... we shall see......
It's about a 12 min drive from where Bob works......... on a high speed highway :-)

Drats that is annoying Susan!

yeah, it is...........
BUT, on the plus side today...... remember we sold Bob's truck on Feb 4th? Well, on Monday the load company took their payment out again......it was PAID by the purchaser, we thought.
Bob looked more closely at the "receipt" we got, and realized it was an original Money Order.... hadn't been used to pay out the Loan Co, so of Course they took the payment out...... The Lord looks after Fools & Angels though, cuz we phoned the Loan company and they said to just take it into one of their branches (ScotiaBank) and they would back-date it and return the last payment they just took out. Then called back the same day and said if we took it into Our bank, and signed a "refusal to pay" form, we'd get it in 48 hours (ScotiaBank would take 5 days).
Well, I went into the bank today, and before I left the counter, the $$ was IN! She said "your funds are back in your acc't! I was startled but oh-so-pleased!! God DOES look after fools and angels........ lol I'm one of the foolish, but I don't care - HE's looking after me :-)

Glad to hear you got that fixed quickly!

Morning all,

Up and at it, telephone rang 3 times before 4am..each time I a swerved no one spoke..finally decided to get up seeing I could not get back to sleep!

Once I have my coffee might just go downstairs and sew for a bit then make myself look better than normal as I've doctor appointment at 4pm..maybe it was he calling at 4am knowing I'd need extra time to do that. Lol

Looks mild out, see municipal equipment are out, perhaps they are clearing gutters in prep for the rain today.

so here we are sewing downstairs, grab a coffee and let's get this bag done...

we finished the outer bag, now for the inside pocket bag

for the pockets you will need 2 pieces width of your bag x 18"

this bag I'm doing I'm using up scraps so I sewed strips together until I got my width and depth

of course my strips ended up not being long enough so I added a strip width wise, will only add to the pockets I think

now that I have 2 - 18" x width of bag panels done or you can use any fabric you have it gets batting on the backside, fold in half and sew edges together, you now have a piece 9" by width of panel which makes a tub, turn so right sides out, place on your lined backing where you have the 2 1/2" notches cut out and place it approx. 1 1/2 inches above the cuts

pin and sew along the bottom, then sides then desired pocket sizes..I made 3 larger pockets on one panel and 4 smaller pockets on 2nd panel

when adding the pocket on the 2nd panel I match sides so that when the bag is sewn together they match
sew sides, bottom and edges to make corners as shown in instructions in front bag

so now we have what looks like 2 bags

now we are ready for the flap and handles and make it into one

hmmm have to see how much time I've left

Liz is this helping in any way???

just a note...I'm using scraps as I'm on a 'use up scraps mission' but you can buy yardage

as well, YOU can make one Joyce and "M" only sewing talent needed is straight sewing

This message was edited Feb 20, 2014 5:03 AM

This message was edited Feb 20, 2014 8:29 AM

Betty, be glad you answered your phone when it rang so early. I have heard of thieves calling to see if people are home and if the phone doesn't get answered they strike!!! This drug problem has hit epidemic proportions and these people are trying anything to get money.

now where were we..

I normally like to make the flap a co-ordinating color but seeing as I have no more browns and nearing end of my scraps it will have to be same of lining

cut 9" by width of purse..now this is where you want to make sure that the flap is exactly same width after sewing and making a circular piece..I had to cut approx 1" off the side to match it.

I ironed my seam open then did a zig zag on each side of the seam to give it strength for when I put the pull cord in

Now folded the edge in about 1/4" then folded it 1" to make the guzzet for the cord..once done I straight stitch all around the flat leaving an opening of about 1/2 inch where I zig zag'd the seam

Oh where is my coffee? Woke up to discover my fridge had stopped working and all the contents warm. Not what I needed to greet this day for sure.

Oh well, I will put my "big girl panties on" and just deal with it...could have been worse.

Otherwise the azaleas are starting to bloom, there is a sun appearing in the sky so all in all, it will be a good day.

yikes, first thing I thought of was someone was ill, with Jeff in Cuba, mom having a hard time of it my adrenalin was just going as it rang soooo was up extra early..be an early night to bed for me tonight!

Sad isn't it re drug situation

Meant to add Noah was over the other night, so nice (at least for right now) he was his loving self..got some hugs and kisses and big I love you grandma..

The sun is actually shining here today and we are supposed to get above 40*!!!! Norm has a PET scan so most of the day will be spent in the hospital but at least we have good travel weather. It is about 1.5 hours to there since we moved and he could probably transfer his care to somewhere closer but we love his team there so we travel with glad hearts... Please pray for him that it is a clean scan.

Your tote is coming right along Betty. Can't wait to see on Liz makes.

uggg, not good Marion, looking on the bright side your refrigerator will be nice and clean!
think you best have to coffee's then go sit out in the garden and see what else may be poking it's head out of the ground.

When I was out at 7:30 I had 2 bluejays flying around, nice to see birdies coming back..will pick up more food for them tonight.

Prayers coming your way Barb..Norm is always in my prayers!!!
Linda's hubby Dave is having surgery tomorrow morning, recurring prostrate cancer, they put a machine inside, has now failed, say only about 30% that surgery will be successful so prayers for him as well.

I'm hoping I'm clear enough for Liz to understand directions for the tote bag..know all you who sew regularly have no need for the instructions but I'm hoping Liz will make many..who knows, maybe Judy will try as well

Hopefulled the flap fits nice and neat against the inside bag..make a 1/4 seam to hold the top of the flap to the top of the bag

hmmm not letting me download more than 2 this time