Sewing machines 140 years ago

I've decided to take what information I have and start on my family history information that I want to leave behind. One of the things I was fortunate enough to come across during my search was a Paper of Record site, which no longer exists. I was able to search Ottawa newspapers for anthing about my ancestors. While searching I came across a number of newspaper ads that I just had to include to show what life was like back in the 1870's.

You'll have to click on the photos to enlarge so you can read them. Notice how gender specific sewing machines were back then!

In 1871 this ad:



In 1872 this ad:

I guess one of the things that blows me away are the prices. Of course wages weren't as high, but a sewing machine for$12? Such a deal. And with the treadle part you get exercise at the same time.

I did sew some on my daughter's quilt blocks yesterday and it was enjoyable. But now I have my head into working on this book so quilting will have to share it's time.

Have a good day.

This is so amazing! Deer for breakfast

I haven't been posting cause it's been a bit rough emtionally around here for too many reasons to list. Life just gets out of control sometimes.

I've lost my zest for quilting. I sure hope it comes back! I'm going to focus on working on my daughter's wedding ring quilt for awhile.

I do have an embroidery I did but won't be showing it for a few days and I have another one I want to start. It's a sewing machine cover. Right now I'm finishing up hand quilting my flannel snowman. I forgot needles were so sharp. Ouch!

Have a good day.

Cut and Press Boot Camp

Well I had to post some picture didn't I. This is what we spent last night doing. I don't think I got very far with pressing straight but I still have 3 more to do.

I was disappointed because instead of taking my own FQ I decided to just buy some. The shop doesn't really sell FQ like they used to but they do sell bundles. We needed 5FQ and there was a bundle of 10 of these retro Christmas ones so I took them. Boy I hate them *LOL* They just don't fit in with my decor. I think I'd need to be younger. And that line isn't cheap :0(

On the other hand I did learn some neat stuff that I should have known eons ago. First of all how to get an exact 1/4" seam. I had no idea you could move your needle back and forth, did you? You put a ruler under your presser foot and measure the distance from the edge of your 1/4" foot to the point of your needle. Move the needle to the 1/4" spot and then back one notch to the right so you will end up with a scant 1/4". You can see the way mine was set at the factory it is one to the larger side of the 1/4" line than to the scant size.

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Not that it helped cause I had taken my Janome Gem to class and I can't sew 1/4" to save my life on that thing. Oh well. I re-sewed all the seams this morning so they should be all 1/4" now.

The reason we were doing this particular project is look at how many strips we had to cut! I have to do that 4 times to make 4 placemats. Since I've already cut them I'm going to continue. I never know how to cut. I thought my hand was turning and that's why my measurements were out. I was doing 2 things wrong. First of all there's a little ridgy type thing on the top of your cutter. I didn't know I was supposed to keep my index finger on that while I cut. That will keep you from cutting on an angle.

The second thing is where you measure from when you're cutting. I always measured from the black line... it's better to measure from the bright line just to the left.

This also gave us a LOT of pressing practise.... which I still need more of.

The last thing I learned is if you're not hungry before you go to a 6:00 lesson eating a big bowl of fancy lettuces is not enough to keep you full til the end of the class at 9:00. Take a sandwich. I couldn't think straight so at 7:30 had to run next door to the Sushi place and get something to eat. I have no idea what I ate just that it tasted good and filled me up. Kinda looked like Japanese Perogies but with pasta instead of potato. And it didn't make me sick *LOL

So now that I said I had nothing to post about there I go. There is a difference between have to and want to.

I Quit

It's impossible. I don't know how others are thinking up what to post every day but looking at the calendar I still have over a week to go and just not that much to say. So, sadly, I have to drop out of Octoberfest.

Going to another Quilter's Boot Camp tonight. Tonight it's cutting and pressing. I figure I can use a refresher on both. I know I'm not good at pressing properly.

Microwave Mitt Pattern

REVISED PATTERN

After playing around with my microwave fingertip mitts pattern I've decided to revise it. For one thing the measurements I was using made the mitts too large for my liking. So here are what I consider better instructions

On a piece of butcher's paper or on a blank piece of paper draw a rectangle 7 ½” x 4 ½”. Then cut out on the lines of the rectangle. 
 Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and then again widthwise and cut an arc. Because the paper is folded you will end up with all corners the same. 

Fold your fabric right sides together and iron the butcher's paper template, wax side down, to your fabric. Cut loosely around your template and then pin so that your bottom fabric won’t slip while you use scissors to cut your fabric pieces. I like to do two at a time cause it’s faster. If you are using regular paper pin and cut.
Cut one more shape from cotton batting, and another from Insulbrite. Note, do not iron the wax template to the batting because you won’t get it off again. It’s better to pin and cut.  The reason I also use the Insulbrite batting is to give extra protection from heat. Make sure the shiny side is facing towards the part of the mitt  that will be touching anything hot.
Now on your waxed paper, or other template, draw a line 3” from either end These end pieces will now become your template for the finger pieces of your mitt.
Using the same method as above cut 4 mitt pieces. Cut 2 pieces of batting the same shape, one for each mitt end. Insulbrite is not needed in the fingertip ends because it won't be in contact with anything hot.
Layer a mitt pieces wrong side up, a batting piece and a top piece right side up.
We are going to add the binding now. You can use any binding you wish. Since it won't be going around a curve you don't need to use bias binding, just a cut a strip of fabric 1 1/2" to 2"wide, iron each edge to the center and then fold in half and press again.

Open the binding out and pin to your mitt end. Pin and sew along the raw edge.

Fold and pin the binding around the straight end of your mitt and edge stitch down.

Optional: If you wish you can add a magnet to your mitt so that it can be hung on the side of your microwave (if it's metal) or a nearby appliance such as the refrigerator. 

Sew a small square of fabric on the back of one of the large mitt pieces about 1/3 of the way down. Slip in a magnet and sew up the final seam.

Now layer in the following order

Cotton batting, insulbrite, mitt piece (with the magnet) right side up, mitt ends, mitt piece wrong side up. 

Pin and stitch all the way around leaving one end open to allow for turning right side out. 

Turn the mitt right side out. 

Sew along the end that you left open.

Now turn the fingertips right side out so the seam doesn’t show on the outside and there you are… a microwave mitt.

I made two. They are great for getting hot things out of the microwave but also good for carrying hot dishes to the table. They are so much less bulky than full sized oven mitts.
I don't know if I wrote this so you could understand or not. Hope I did.

Fingertip Microwave Oven Mitts

I did it! I figured out how to make these fingertip mitts without having to put bias tape around the edges.

If you don't mind bias tape around the edges you can find the free pattern at Savvy Seams I personally like the cleaner look. She also has a pattern for full sized oven mitts. I've had a pair of the fingertip ones for about 5 years that I bought at the market here one summer. They're very used and besides I found this really cute retro fabric and had to use it.

On the left is the back and on the right (below) you can see the pouches where you put your fingertips.

This is my prototype, which we'll use anyway til it falls apart but it isn't really straight and it was ripped apart a couple of times while I was trying to figure it out so it does have a frayed edge. Tomorrow, I hope, I'm going to make another one and I'll take photos along the way and post instructions here.

Em's Challenge

This was a hard one cause I like so many different singers/groups. I like James Taylor but it didn't look like his song titles could help. So I picked Alan Jackson. Then I realized I LOVE Great Big Sea but it took me too long to do it using Alan Jackson so that's where it stands.


1. Are you a male or female? Blue Blooded Woman
2. Describe yourself: Work in Progres
3. How do you feel: Strong Enough
4. Your family: Everything I Love
5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?: Dallas
6. Your favorite form of transportation: I’ll Fly Away
7. Your best friend: Sissy’s Song
8. Your favorite color is: The Blues Man
9. What's the weather like: Tropical Depression
10. Favorite day: Let It Be Christmas
11. If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?: Murder on Music Row
12. What is life to you? Nobody Said That it Would be Easy
13. Your current relationship: Up To My Ears in Tears
14. Looking for: Who Am I
15. Wouldn't mind: Winter Wonderland
16. Your fear: Tall Tall Trees
17. What is the best advice you have to give: Just Put a Ribbon in Your Hair
18. If you could change your name, you would change it to: Itty Bitty
19. Thought for the Day: It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
20. How I would like to die: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
21. Your pet: Just Playin Possum
22. Your motto: It’s Alright to be a Redneck

Today a Recipe

I wanted to post this a few days ago and I forgot. Now that Fall is here I'm being reminded of all our winter favorites. Number one on the list is meatloaf... ugh. But my number one is this stew I discovered I don't know where... I think an old Purity cookbook or something. I'm really not much of a cook but this is delicious!

Old Time Beef Stew

2 lbs stew beef cubed. I usually was buying a round steak instead cause the stew beef at Safeway was always too fatty and stringy. I got it last time at a different supermarket and it was delicious so you can do either. Also since we've changed to metric I just use some cause I can't figure it out. What looks about the amount I want.

2Tbsp shortening

1 tsp Worster sauce

1 onion sliced

1 or 2 Bay leaves

1 tsp salt (Optional - I leave it out cause I'm on a salt restricted diet and no one notices)

1Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp Paprike

Dash Allspice or Cloves

6 carrots, pared and sliced

4 potatoes

3 Tbsp flour

Brown meat in hot shortening... I also brown the onions at the same time.

Add 2 cups hot water and the next 9 ingredients. I also add a tsp Beef OXO or 1 beef cube, and because we like lots of gravy I increase the water to about 4 cups. I guess that's why I put the OXO in for more taste.

Simmer, covered, 1 1/2 hours stirring occasionally.

Remove Bay Leaves.

Add vegetables.

Cook covered 30-45 mins.

Blend 1/3c water w 3Tbsp flour. Stir slowly into hot stew.

Cook and stir until bubbly plus about 3 mins longer.

I don't stick to only carrots. I throw in whatever strikes my fancy... usually frozen green beans and corn, just to give it some colour.

I also find that I need to add more water (maybe a cup) when I put the vegetables in cause the simmering means there's less water than I put in to begin with.

Confused yet?

Just take the basics and put your own twist on it.

Crime Update

I really didn't feel like blogging today. I have a lot on my mind right now so wasn't in the mood. But I was on my way to bed just now and realized I do have something I can blog about.

We had to wait until our local paper came out on Wednesday but we finally found out what was going on last weekend with the police and the copter and everything.

In Wednesday's paper on page 3 there was a little blurb. There had been a vocal altercation in the park. One kid stabbed another kid in the arm. He was taken to hospital and released. They've made so many cuts to our hospital that it's more like a glorified walk in clinic except it takes longer to see a doctor.

They took the second kid into custody and he's out now pending a hearing. So, what that means is our police are bored and don't have a lot to do so when they got the chance to play with the helicopter and sneak around in the bushes in the dark it was a big deal for them.

So much for crime. We did have a panhandler once. The police told him to move along and no one saw him again. We also have 2 homeless people but everyone leaves out their empty pop cans so they can take them to the recycling depot and get cash to buy food so they aren't too hard up. The thrift shop doesn't have a lot of room inside so they leave larger items like couches outside at night and that's usually where the two homeless guys sleep.

As Walter Cronkite used to say "And that's the way it is."

I didn't miss today!

It's 11:00pm here on the West Coast so it's still Thursday. But I have nothing to say *LOL*

I did work today from 2-5. Walked in the shop at 2:00 and it was really bare. Everything was at the 2 shows where we have vendors booths this weekend. Even at that I did manage to make $80 in sales so that will make the accountant happy. There obviously was nothing to do in there so I just read my book and visited with the customers who came in. It's nice to do something different sometimes.

I Drew the Short Straw...or Needle?

October is blood test month for me. Every three months is blood test time. But October is the one where they do who knows what and I have to fast. I know Cholesterol is one of them. The nurses at our local lab are very nice.... but today I think I got Miss Ratchet's illegitimate daughter.

Even though I've had these tests for years, I have a standing order, I still get a bit nervous just before they are about to puncture me insert the needle. So I find something in my surroundings to comment on. This time I was watching her stick all these stickers onto my order sheet and I giggled. She just stared at me like Nurse Ratchet up there and asked what was wrong. I said "There's just so many stickers!" She just continued to stare at me and then told me to make a fist. That was the extent of our conversation and the expression on her face never changed. Usually the girls in there are East Indian and they are so nice and friendly and competent. They make going for a bloodtest almost enjoyable.

Came home and got a call from the quilt shop. They accidentally booked 3 shows for the same weekend. So even though that will leave very little stock in the store they still want to stay open. I get too tired working full days in there so she asked if I could work 2-5 tomorrow. Works for me. So this afternoon I need to finish putting the half square triangles around my Christmas quilt so I can take it with me to leave for the long arm quilter. She picks up her orders and the shop.

By the way, I heard from Kim (Doglover) from the old blog. Remember her? She said she misses all of us from the old blog. I told her where we'd all gone so she's going to come and have a look around. She hasn't been quilting lately and hasn't had the time to blog. I told her she should come on here anyway. In some ways I do miss our original blog. It felt more "homey" somehow. But a lot of us have moved here and connected and I think that's great.

Blog Every Day??

Oh boy. This is getting tough. I think I caught whatever Lane had yesterday *LOL* My get up and go, got up and went. Fall decided to arrive... or maybe it's winter.... whatever it is I don't like it. It's damp and dreary and all I feel like doing is sitting and organizing (in my head) what I should do next. The actual doing of it, well, not so much. I'm turning into my mother! She once told me she'd get up in the morning, look around at what needed doing and then sit down and read a book all day. I can live with that.

What I am doing though is I decided that I've been reading too many "cozy books" lately - probably cause a friend of mine lent them to me and she's a more avid reader than I am. I have stacks of them. So I decided to ease up on those and go back to reading books that make me think or that I might learn something from. Today I chose to read more of The Seven Daughter's of Eve. This book is way over my head. It's about mitochondral DNA which I can't really say I'm understanding exactly but only females pass it on. Science is like a foreign language to me, but the parts I do understand are fascinating. Did you know every pet hamster in the world is a descendant of a gold coloured female captured in Syria in 1930? See now I didn't know that yesterday.

Guess that's my post for today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more to say.

Happy Thanksgiving/Columbus Day

To everyone else Happy Monday!

Life sure isn't like it used to be. Things like Thanksgiving used to be a big family deal. Maybe it's cause I'm not a kid anymore and my family is mostly gone now but I don't think so. I think the world is just moving so fast that the thought of slowing down and being thankful, counting our blessings, is overshadowed by sales and just plain shopping. Most people have to go out to work just to make ends meet so there is no other time for them to shop.

When I was a kid stores weren't open on Sundays and holidays, neither were movie theatres. We didn't have a television until I was 10 and even then television on a Sunday was rarely allowed.

We had time to *gasp* reflect, to spend time with family and friends and enjoy it. Maybe my mom who was stuck doing the cooking didn't think so but I never heard her complain. She never entertained at any other time so I guess she looked forward to it.

This year we're having our turkey a week late cause our daughter has 2 other places to go and she really wants to have the time to enjoy it at home instead of having it blurred into yet another dinner. My husband is retired and I'm kinda retired but still today is just another Monday. Except that I'm trying to focus on the things I am grateful for. It isn't difficult.

Have a great day.

Fall Embroidery

I finally finished my Fall embroidery I was doing. It wasn't my choice. I had two but hubby liked this one better cause of the cat. I think I need to get him a kitten. I was going to do the other one too but now I'm on to hand quilting my snowman quilt.

I decided to use crayon on it cause it was kinda blah without it. But I'm not sure. DH says it looks fine with just the sunflowers heavily coloured cause they're the focus. I think it all needs to be heavily coloured. Any opinions? I've never coloured before. Both husband and Michael kept telling me not to go outside the lines *LOL* I also said to DH "Bee's aren't all yellow like that." He said "This one is" *LOL* Gotta love a supportive husband.

I bought this frame at the thrift shop and was going to rough it up to use. But now I saw Angela's Ball stitchery and I'm so totally in love with that frame Jim makes.

DH also found out through the grapevine yesterday that the kid in the park that got stabbed was treated and released. It was really no big deal as stabbings go. Everyone thinks they got out the copter and all congregated around here cause they were bored. The never get to take the copter out cause nothing ever happens around here. Their motto is "No call too small".

There's never much action if they're assigned to the South district. We do have teenage parties and stuff that they break up and they do drive around looking for crime but on the whole I think the job is a bit of a snooze. Of course then they have to do rotations in the North District and it's gotta be a total adrenalin rush for the whole shift up there.

It finally got kinda frosty here last night.. okay 2C (@34F), which is mild compared to other areas, but still I'd have to put a coat on and everything to go out.

WINNER Hallowe'en Giveaway

Today's the day! I hope none of you are dizzy from being shaken around in a plastic lunch bag *LOL*

And the winner is
Quiltluver! Congratulations Karen.

I'll go down and press them (honest) and get them into the mail as soon as you answer my email giving me your address.

The little scarecrow above I made 5 or 6 years ago when I was in my need to try something new period. He turned out pretty well. I saw a photo and just tried to recreate it my way. He turned out kinda cute. His pumpkin is a plastic one I bought that has batteries in it and the eyes flash green when it's turned on. I really should try to find him and dig him out for the season.

Had a rather odd night here last night. I always say our area is so safe I could go out for a walk at 3am and not worry. We've been here for 15 years and I think that concept is changing. Probably cause life is changing... on weekend nights anyway.

A few weeks ago there were two groups of kids down the street and it was getting pretty rough. A girl started to scream. So I called the police and they said they'd already had calls. Of course by the time the police got here half the kids were gone. But they questioned the ones who were left and maintained a presence for a couple of hours.

Last night at 11:00 an ambulance came down the street. No biggie, the ambulance is frequently going down that street cause someone down there must have a medical problem. But then I heard a helicopter overhead. It was the police copter flying at about 200 feet, doing a grid, obviously looking for someone. First thing we locked all our doors and windows.

Just yesterday morning in the paper we read about that kid Colton Harris-Moore. Then there were reports that he was in Pt. Roberts, Washington which is right near us. So we started thinking maybe it was him they were after. We really need a police scanner, I'm way too curious to not have one. We had the radio on two different channels and kept switching back and forth to news channels on TV but nothing.

First thing I did this morning was snap on the 24 hour radio news channel and there it was. Stabbing in Cromie Park, which is at the end of our street. Yikes! It's a soccer field and has bright lights they turn on for night games but they really need to be on all the time cause teens do congregate there. That would be one heck of an electric bill though huh? No specifics yet, of course, but I'll be watching/listening throughout the day to find out what happened. Used to be the biggest thing that happened around here were horses falling in ditches. Times have changed.

To Stopper Border or Not to Stopper Border

Those of you who were on the old blog may remember that 2 years ago *blush* I was making this Catch A Falling Star quilt. I finally got the last two blocks attached last week. Now I need to finish it with borders.

I didn't like the finishing on the pattern. It had a black stopper border and then a large red border. It didn't fit in with my quilt, I guess cause I used more country kind of fabrics. So I decided to make 1/2 sq triangles to use as a border.

I looked at the quilt with no stopper border... looks okay. Then I tried black and I tried a light red. I think I like the red. So I'm crossing my fingers and going for it. So hopefully I'll be able to show this quilt again in a few days with the borders on. Then it's going out to be quilted cause I really, really, like this one. Funny how some can become our favorites.

Still sunny today. I may go out and use the outdoor Windex stuff and clean the windows. I like it cause it cleans the screens at the same time. And it doesn't go all streaky on me.

Hallowe'en Giveaway Reminder

Don't forget everyone that tomorrow is the day I choose a winner for my Blogtoberfest Hallowe'en giveaway. If you haven't entered yet go to my post here to sign up.

It's getting difficult to blog every day. Only now do I realize what a bore I am *LOL* I do have lots to do. I'm working on a fall embroidery which is taking longer than I'd hoped since I usually stitch in the evening and with my husband home evenings I prefer to spend time with him watching TV. I may finish it tonight though.

I'm also trying to fix up my Family Tree after my computer crash. When I transfered it onto the new computer it did fine but dropped all the vital statistics such as birth, death, etc. With 5500 people in my tree it's taking hours to go through and replace all those dates. Not that I really care about a lot of them but if the next generation wants to pick up where I left off I want to leave behind all I have for them. It's been labour intensive cause it's really not fun and I'm at a point in my research now that I just want to put together relevant stuff into a mini book and then move on to a new hobby. I'm genealogied out.

And then there's the fact that today and tomorrow are our last semi-nice days for awhile and I still have a lot of winterizing to do in the yard.. which I hope to get to this afternoon.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Tis the Season

It's official. I heard the first flock of geese headed over to the rendevous area at the George Rifiel Bird Sanctuary. This is a photo of my b-i-l who passed away in 2006 when he was here visiting in October of 2005. As you can see the area is inhabited year round by ducks but in the Fall the Canada Geese go there to fatten up for their trip south. This particular goose decided that rather than waiting to be offered seed he'd just help himself out of George's pocket *LOL*

I know Rifiel is an odd name for a bird sanctuary but it's named after the man who owned all that land and donated it for the sanctuary. It's a great place to spend an afternoon with lots of trails, lookouts and benches.

It still doesn't feel like October out there. The leaves are still green and even though today has been cloudy we've been having many gusts of sunshine.

I found an awesome blog today. I was checking out Facebook and I had joined the Lazy Girl Designs facebook page. She had a link to Pat Sloan - the pattern and fabric designer. That lead me to Pats blog. Her blog is amazing! If you check all the things listed down the side most of them are hers. She has free patterns and how to videos. I LOVE how to videos.. cause I like to "see" things done. That's how I learn. There's a link in my blogs I follow but here's the link anyway.

http://patsloan.typepad.com/pat_sloans_corner/

Off to do a few more fall clean up chores that I thought I could leave til Spring.

Snowman Quilt

A post a day? And it's only day 6? Oh boy, that's quite a bite that's rolling around in my mouth.

Okay, here's something I wasn't going to share til it's done but what the heck. I did the embroidery for this quilt once for a shop sample. They were so cute I just HAD to make the quilt myself. I mean how can you resist this face?


I've been using it for two winters now as a coverup for a white brocade chair in the livingroom. I originally had quilts on there cause we had cats. No cats now but quilts still look nice on it. So after clearing up my quilting room and finding all these UFO's I decided it's probably time to quilt it. I know part of the problem was I had no backing. But I did have enough of this fabric line that I could make a patched backing. Some of the pieces are from other projects so it's different colours than blue.. but that's okay Shirley.. stop being so picky!

This one I'm actually going to try to hand quilt. I figure it won't be that hard, quilt around the squares and then put a snowflake in the between spots. Haven't decided about the borders yet. Something simple.... maybe smaller snowflakes. It's going to be so snuggly. It's a very soft flannel.

What else is new since 24 hours ago? Geesh! Oh, I know. My husband LOVES pumpkin pie. But not just any pumpkin pie. It has to be made from my mom's recipe- which my older sister claims is hers but I don't think so. For one thing mine had Mace in it and hers doesn't, although she claims she just deleted it from the recipe. Plus the recipe calls for a "dessertspoon full of flour" That's definately a 1930's, maybe '40s kitchen measure. Since my sister wasn't born until 1940 I deduce it is my mothers, or grandmothers, recipie. Anyway, horrors of horrors I lost my recipe! So I had to write to my sister and ask if she had "the recipe" not "her" recipe or "moms" recipe just "the" recipe. At first she couldn't find her copy either. Isn't it funny how something like losing a recipe for pie can throw you into a panic? Well, seemed serious to me anyway cause I agree it tastes better than others. But she finally found it and emailed it to me so a pie was in the oven yesterday afternoon... and I did add Mace to her recipie.

Now I think I'm going to write the recipe out and put it in our safety deposit box *LOL* I bet other people have strange things in their's too.

Embroiderer's Jackpot!

I did my first embroidery when I was in Grade 6. It was an introduction to the sewing we would be doing in grades 7 and 8. I actually have that first embroidery. It's a laundry bag with two southern ladies in big skirts and bonnets. I have to tell you that because, although I do have it, I came up with the bright idea a few years ago that we all needed to have "memory boxes"... big Rubbermaid bins filled with things that were precious.

Now this is a good idea... what's not a good idea is to store them under the stairs behind the empty luggage, sleeping bags and similar boxes of Christmas decorations. I can't get at them without emptying the cupboard almost to the very back. Since I don't feel like doing that this morning you'll just have to believe that I actually do have it.

Why I bring this up is because I've been enjoying Embroidery for the last while and have even joined a Sitchery group. I was working on a project that just wasn't turning out right. I thought maybe it needed more than just your regular backstitching. So I went looking for some different techniques. And boy did I find them!

Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread has video's demonstrating almost any stitch you can imagine. I'm in heaven. Of course now I'll be sitting in front of my computer trying to learn all the stitches. Where's the take out dinner menus? *LOL*

Enjoy!

Autism Awareness

Do any of you watch The Amazing Race? It's on tonight. It just started last Sunday. For the last couple of years they've had special needs people racing. One girl was a little person, last year there was a 20's something who is deaf. He was amazing. He made it all the way to the final three.

This year I was surprised and excited to hear that one of the racers has Aspergers. Aspergers Syndrome is what my son Michael has. It's on the Autism Spectrum of disorders. I had never heard of it before Michael was diagnosed. All I knew about was Autism - non verbal, rocking, head banging, violent at times. Asperger's Syndrome has been around for a very long time but no one knew it was there until the late 1980's. A man and his brother were shot and killed by police in San Francisco in the early 1920's because the police wanted to talk to them (they were innocent bystanders when an incident occurred) and they didn't understand what the police wanted so they tried to run away. No blame to the police officers of course. All they saw was 2 men trying to run away from the scene of an incident.

There have been one or two TV shows, series, where they've had actors playing the part of someone with Aspergers. But no, they didn't get it right. I'd comment that someone with Aspergers wouldn't do this or that or act this way or that way. To see an actual Aspergers individual showing the world who he is, what he can do is beyond awesome.

And this fellow is very brave to try this at all. He said he had difficulty with changes to his surroundings.. understatement. I don't believe anyone knows just how hard it is for them. I want to change from my summer red impatiens on the steps leading up to the front door to winter pansies. I got maroon coloured ones, closest I could get to red. But Michael keeps telling me the impatiens look fine, he likes the red ones. Something that small, when the time comes to change them, will bother him. He'll pace, he'll be anxious because they aren't the same plants. And change is too hard. So you can imagine what happens when we put a Christmas Tree in the livingroom and start decorating and putting things where they "don't belong."

Last week in the race they were in Vietnam. It was raining.. like monsoon weather. There must have been 3 feet of water on the roads and pouring rain. A young man got onto the bus that the racers were on. He wasn't wearing a coat and so the fellow with Aspergers gave him his coat. He said he looked like he needed it more than he did. That is the beautiful side of Aspergers. They are so giving and so compassionate. Socialization is a major hurdle for them and yet if they see someone they don't even know that they perceive is in need they will give them the shirt off their back.. literally.

Their challenge on this leg of the race was to "herd" ducks. The Vietnamese use them in the rice paddies to keep down algae, etc. that can ruin their crops. This one was a no brainer. If you have a room full of people and one of them is autistic and then you let in 3 dogs all 3 dogs will gravitate to the person with Autism. There is some connection with all animals. The fellow that is racing with him called him the Duck Whisperer.

I see Michael in the field out back with the horses.. there's about 20 of them. They all crowd around him. Maybe they think he is one of them I don't know. He went to his uncle's house where there were 5 cats. All 5 cats, including one who always hides if strangers are around, ended up vying for space on his lap.

Anway, this is my long round about way of saying that I hope lots of people are watching this show, watching this fellow, at least until he is disqualified by coming in last at a checkpoint. I want so badly for the world to understand my son.

Crazy Zuchinni

I decided today I'd show one of my favorite quilts. I put it out the other day in celebration of Fall. This was a class I took in 2006 but you know some classes just stick in your head cause they were so much fun. There was maybe 6 of us. We each had to bring a bunch of different fabrics cut into various size pumpkin shapes the instructor had given us ahead of time. It was to save time, sure, but it was also so we could share. We cut each of our shapes into 4 sections. Then each section was put in a bag and we all reached in and pulled out 3 from each of the four bags. We sewed as we went. The idea being that our pumpkins would end up really scrappy.. like a Buggy Barn pattern but without the obvious same fabrics. We also had leaf shapes and stem shapes that we did the same with.

This pattern is all raw edge applique so went together very quickly. I can't remember the name of the background fabric.. it's almost like prequilted - in kind of a small grid. So all that was left to do once our pumpkins were finished was to embroider the tendrils and then do a stipple to quilt it to the backing. I didn't even remember doing a stipple cause it doesn't really show.

Here's a close up of one of the pumpkins, sorry it's so blurry.



But it shows the different fabrics that went into making it. We don't use it as a lap quilt. I have it out just for Fall ambiance.

I'm working on UFO's at the moment too, a bit each day. I have one quilt ready to hand quilt and the other ready to figure out borders on. So here it is October.. so the calendar says... and I'm working on Christmas quilts.

It's hard to believe this really is October. Our temperature is supposed to go up to 20C (70F) next week. Interesting climate changes we're having. I went out and bought winter pansies yesterday but then realized my impatiens are still doing fine so why pull them out? Hope the pansies don't mind sitting in their little containers until it decides to get cold around here.

I really shouldn't complain. This sunny weather is a real treat around here where Fall/Winter are usually gloomy and raining.

Have a great Saturday (or Sunday if you're in Australia).

Blogtoberfest

Lane always has such neat ideas. So I've decided to sign up for Blogtoberfest, which means I will blog every day for the month of October. Of course it's already the 2nd so I'm behind before I start but that's nothing new *LOL*

You can sign up too at tinniegirls blog. There's a whole slew of people signed up which is kind of neat. Over the month I'm going to travel around and I just might learn something or find something interesting I haven't see before. There will also be giveaway's on some of the blogs.

Seeing as it's already Oct 2nd and what I have to give away is a Hallowe'en theme I'm going to post mine today. I'll be doing the draw on October 10 so that I can get these mailed out in time for someone to use them for this year.

The package will include 2 panels. One for a wallhanging



and one of 12" squares that would be great appliqued on a childs trick or treat bag or made into a special Halloween quilt:



I'll also be including some smaller applique sized images that came with the panel.



I've never done a giveaway before so I'm not sure of the rules. Just leave a comment and let me know that you want to be included in the draw. I'll be putting up reminders leading back to this post every few days.

Guess I should have pressed everything before I took the photos but I'm allergic to ironing *LOL* They do press up nice though, promise.