What if ...

I actually get everything together?

On the strength of a buyer's promise to purchase my old sewing cupboard I went ahead and got two new storage units, some wall shelving and a stool for the playroom. 

I did shuffle everything around to see if it all fits and while not ideal, it definitely feels roomier.

We are continuing to simplify and this was the Rooster's and his Sweet Pea's last walk out to bring the flock in.  They have been sold. 

Snow has fallen out west!  This gives a sense of urgency to the fall to-do list so the kitchen has been put on hold as we continue the yard clean up.  This might be good because when we were at Ikea to get my storage units the Rooster asked if I'd thought about an eating island in place of the kitchen table!!!  :O 

My Rooster is a keeper but he does have a tendency to put things all over the yard with lots of space around the whatever so he can 'get at it'!  :(  It makes my grass cutting very challenging.  He is conceding that it is a problem.  So he moved the pavers over to where we will be needing them. 

Now I have my own quirks but I couldn't resist asking him  when I passed how many red ones there were.  ;^)  He said he was just grabbing them.  Maybe so...

But when he restacked them...   LOL   We both like to accumulate a 'good deal' and then get creative and make something useful.  We are to go back in November to get another truckload and that should make a nice platform for our containers.  :)  The darn dogs have made gardening under the kitchen window impossible.

Good thing he is a sweet dog and a favourite with the grand daughters.  Sweet Pea prefers to go exploring with the grand son. 

It has been a challenging summer but I'm getting back into the swing of things.  All but one of our kids are arriving for a visit next week so that puts the hurry to a few of the projects.  The grand kiddies are planning a welcome party and we sent out homemade invitations last week.

There are a few more changes coming up but it looks like blogging should return with a bit more regularity next month.   Now what if...

Wow! The work table is flooded!

 It has been just pouring rain these last few days.  The sun is out  now so I hope I am not tempting fate with the open umbrella!  I have baskets on the table, a Noah's Ark quilt and some bunny fabric ideas. oops, I forgot about the Rooster's mending!  :(   I've no time for anything other than a flood of ideas!

This was the general idea for the basket quilt.  I will put the applique posies at the top.

The wall hanging should actually be a bit wider but I could trim the sides down if necessary.  The background of these baskets is a white on white print, a tone on tone.  I like them but this has been in the stash a long time and I remember why;  the print is painted on and a real pain to applique!  :{

But the narrower sashing is much better as it is less busy and doesn't overpower the baskets. And I want to see those darn painted flowers in the TOT fabric background.  ;)  I really kinda want to leave my focus fabric of polka dots in the quilt.  :}

I got a huge selection of bias tape at a thrift sale and was thinking of a vine with circles.  But I had an aha!  What if I did flower stems?

 Looking through my paper circles for a size I found this checkerboard circle.  Cute.  I'm sure I have some checkerboard fabric.  :)

These baskets are proving to be a very time consuming quilt!  My ark needs floating.

And my bunnies are wanting to get hopping!  Cutting the most bunnies that I can may mean doing these blocks on point.  :O

My camera sure doesn't like focusing on dots!  But I do think I have a plan for finishing!

I need to stop the flood that is washing away my time! vbsigh  But I do wonder what kinds of floods (ideas,  projects, fabrics, finished projects, mosquitoes, etc.) the gals on TN&TN are experiencing

Boxing it up!

 

What a project this memory box has turned out to be!

I have 'stuff' somewhat organized, well, make that scattered over the whole upstairs.  Things really got disorganized when DDS#3 reclaimed one room and I cleared off the bed and any other flat surface.  I redistributed stuff.  :O   The Grand Kiddie #1 visited so I removed from his bunk and shoved some under my bed.  I find stuff I didn't know I had because I am looking for photos that I 'know' I saw.  :(

I need to at least put away the memory pages that are finished.  So I began the fabric box.  My first choice of fabric wasn't enough.  There is an inside and an outside and a padded bottom insert.  I ended up using a cotton that barely made it.  It does remind me of my mum before she went drab. Note to self- don't go basic drab! 

Now I had already padded the top not realizing my batting is all low loft.  Kinda flat but the glue holds well so I wasn't gonna change it.  I did put two layers for the 'puffy' insert. 

But I felt it was really boring.  DRAB???   Maybe DS#2 can just make me a wooden box, a bit feminine!   vbsigh  So before I attempted the hinges I auditioned some piping.  I don't really have any.  hmmmm  It is starting to perk up.

What about a motif from my first choice fabric?   ooh.  I could add some batting behind it for some more poof.

Some ribbon!  some...

 And a fob for opening the lid! And...

Hmm, amazing where a bit of what if... can lead you!    I may have to cancel the wooden box!


The final post for ... and then we set it on fire...  will be tomorrow.  Well, unless I have to call the fire department!  ;~)

WOW- mayhem!

Three tries and they are still not right!  :(  What am I doing wrong???

Aha!  These two patterns look the same but on closer examination it seems they are not the same. duh! 

I knew the two examples were different sizes so I was working with the 12 inch block.  The six inch is for a pillow case and has the actual layout I want.

Then add to the mix, overlapping templates that span three pages.  I can see I was sunk before I even began!  :O  (I went back and double checked- I think they have the wrong template letter.)

I did notice that the first pattern had an easier set up; the four handles are appliqued on one piece and the baskets are built around that centre.  I could make up for lost time here.  :)

So I drafted up my own full page block with the easier layout of the first and the size from the second.  I do believe the darn thing will now work.  If I can just pay attention to what colours go where instead of thinking one basket at a time this will actually be more visually pleasing.

The bad news is that I have made hash from a lovely white tone on tone fabric. vbsigh.  I chose a LENGTHY piece of white tone on tone for this next try and won't have the worry of fabric requirements for the border.   I only have a couple of coloured triangles to re cut because it was the smaller size of the white squares that were the ones causing trouble.  I even have enough handle to make another basket.  yay!  I'm so glad i hadn't got those handles done as planned.  phew!

MAYbe I'll have something accurate to show for next week.  ;~)  Darn it anyway;  why can't I just follow a prescribed pattern instead of trying to be cute!!!  LOL  I guess that is the nature of  'what if...'.

I'm sure my fellow TNTNer's are all successfully filling their May baskets with lovely projects.  You may want to check that out! 

HSTeria!

 

 I've decided to join the hysteria over at Field Trips in Fibre.  This post and this post has  lead to HSTeria.  A question was asked and the HSTeria Quilt Along has come into being.  I have succumbed!

There are a couple of reasons.  I do like triangles.  I have a die for cutting half square triangles and I need to learn how  to use it.  I have fabric options; boy, do I have fabric options!  I need a deadline.  The Rooster wants a 'bigger' quilt than the last few I've been doing.  lol  This feels like a good fit.  sew...

The modified Irish Chain wall hanging is half square triangles but I cut squares of fabric and then cut them again with a rotary cutter.  I'm ready to try precision piecing with trimmed tips.  :)  I hope to make a nice lap quilt for the fall weather as we wait for chilly nights to sit by the stove.  This is a safe fabric ensemble.  Light/dark.  Bali's and a nicely patterned chameleon green.  It is nice to play it safe!  But then...

Do I, once again, want to play it safe?  I do like this.  A three inch triangle...

Could this be piecing/living dangerously?  Will all the bits connect and form fall flowers in the viewer's eye?

What the heck!  It is a quilt top.  No need to get hysterical!  Live dangerously and try the what if...

Fabric decisions are now, gulp, made and next will be starching the fabrics for precise cutting and piecing.  Let the HSTeria begin!

Half and half!

Today is split half daylight and half darkness.  I'm thinking I have six of one and half dozen things to do.

 Lambing is half done and the second half is always slower and less trouble than the first half!  The only green I've seen has been in the hay bales!  ;^)

We had a full house Sunday and they all dispersed before another weather system blew in that produced a total whiteout. Thankfully it didn't last long enough to shut everything down.  I had errands in town yesterday and I began to see gravel showing between the high snowbanks and everyone was smiling in town as the sun came out, water started dripping and puddles formed on the sidewalks!  I do believe we have spring happening.

The coffee pot died and the Rooster brought home a new one.  I say this because he bears a lot of responsibility for what happened next. lol   I am trying to deal with life as it is and not what might be.  So I am looking at all the 'what ifs' that we have on the to-do list.  If we did a bump out for a breakfast nook we can have an island with a big farm sink.  The sink awaits in the basement.  I am trying out island positions but the bump out looks further away than ever.  Also the old sink is needy to the point of embarrassing.  Sunday we had the Rooster and about 4 women, several kids and a few sight seers all circling the island!.  (I was off setting a long but  pretty table!)  It was crowded.

HMMMM!

So Monday I decided we should just get that sink happening where the old sink is.  But the new white hutch encroaches on the sink space.  Ah, the smaller hutch in the front dining room would work and it is RED!  It was meant to be!

 So I pushed and shoved as much as I could until the Rooster came to finalize the lifting of the top back onto the white cabinet.  Actually the kitchen dishes have a red leaf on them!  The watercolour has bits of red flowers.  And I have a couple of red cooking pots.  I am here to tell you that if you buy what you like it all manages to go together!  :)

 I need those two old Ikea cupboards that were my island but if I took the top off, rotated the square cabinets and put it under the window we have a peninsula instead of an island.  Close enough.  The old elm cupboard was lovely but really too big for squeezing through with the laundry and it needs significant regluing.  Off to the veranda it went and it may find another spot but only after gluing.  The little jelly cupboard is happy to be back holding recipes and tea things.  I haven't done my valence because I'm still considering options.  I did see a lovely faux Roman shade I'd like to figure out. I did antique the very white birdhouse but that is a south window and I can't wait all day for the right angle of light. I'm spring cleaning/decorating!  lol

I put just about all my white ware into the bigger hutch.  The glass doors will keep the dust off and I really think this will be there final resting place as all this switchy switchy is cutting into my 'art' time!   lol This hutch needs another coat and some waxing and its drawers and knobs finished up but all the prep is done. My teacups are handy, my table linens at the ready and I'm pleased. 

I shall change up seasonal decor by alternating my quilts, pillows, and a few appropriate accessories.  I have realized that seeing bare walls and being able to move easily through the rooms is desirable.  Stuff is leaving!  I am luving the fresh feeling and while the hallway is slated for painting next, the spring cleaning is done for the bottom half of the house.  I'm half done and spring is just starting!  :) Now does anybody want coffee?

Humming along

Hmmm, if I am going to declutter and soothe and simplify I will need to get rid of some of my good 'junk'.

To paint this room is not anywhere near the top of the to-do list but with company coming I need to hide that mess of nail holes I put in trying to arrange pictures. I threw this quilt between the two book cases.  Whoa!  I LIKE!  I immediately thought I should paint the book cases green with aqua on the inside. 

A little reality check but I couldn't let the idea go.  I have to clean these shelves.  While they are empty what if I carefully taped the sides and 'just' painted the back?   :O  Hmmmm!

So when I got the vacuum I got a quart of paint just in case I have time to do that.  Need I suggest that the vacuum is humming to a faster paced song now! lol

And as a result...

Most intriguing- Richard Long's Niagara Sandstone Circle, 1981
This was part of the Group of Seven era focusing on landscape.  This about 15' in diameter.  The shape is fixed by the artist and for each installation the 362 pieces are laid down and the work is 'remade'.  There was a similar work down with wooden beams and a Stone Henge effect but it didn't 'speak'  So I am isolating the circle shape  and the curved line as a primary design element for my particular toolbox.

Most feeling-  Maxfield Parrish's Dream Castle in the Sky 1908
His passion was colour and this was delightful. Parrish blue was named for him.   It also has stylized foliage, rocks, water which convey a fantasy feel. I like that curved line that puts a ceiling on the fantasy.  ;)  We, Gemini, have a hard time making up our minds between two luvs.  I'm also drawn to muted colours but my primary design element will be the clear colour palette.

Most surprising- Group of Seven
I'd previewed this on the WAG site before going and was totally surprised by how huge it is!  The figures are almost life size but the background reaches way up and that clear looking photograph in the background is so subtle (tone on tone) and so neutral and so draws you in to try to see details of the brushwork.  amazing! I like texture and this subtle background opened my eyes to using a subtle but textured background.  I also realize contrast is much more than big and small or black and white but can be matte and shiny or realistic and stylized.
But I was also surprised by my feelings of patriotism.  I really got into these seven and even bought a book on the one artist that appealed most. 

I'd gotten a book from the library to have a heads up.  A. J. Casson was 'the kid' of the group and his work is a wee bit different.  He liked watercolours better than oils and included more signs of human habitation. I had my eye out for his work and so I bought his book.   Studying these Canadian artists  I learned not to generalize.  Amongst the whole hides the individual.

Most compelling- artist David Milne 1939 another Canadian (1882-1950) and unlike the sociable Group of Seven he was a loner and a perfectionist. I bought this print in the gift shop. I wanted a 'souvenir'.  I should have gone back and had a better look at this one for real. Hmm, maybe I will!   I wish I'd bought the book about him. I'd remembered him from my library book and he obviously made more of an impression than I realized.  I am way more 'modern' than I thought as I keep coming back to this one.  The colour, the brushwork, the distinct lines, the stylized shapes, the white spaces and just the general 'feel' of it.  I learned that I can over-think things and the spontaneous 'this one' can speak the most truly! ;-)

Highlights:

Revisiting The Bay.  Lots of memories in this department store.  I fear for its future. This was the view through the opening on the rooftop of the WAG.

This large sculpture would be incredible lit from within at night.  That word spells PARADISE!

I am so drawn to blue green glass. And bits of gold. yum!   Some of these have sand embedded into their nooks and niches!  This was in the permanent gallery and not so crowded so I clicked a discreet photo, no flash!  lol

Another from the permanent gallery;  dark with the mellow centre.  Still lifes? For moi??

 For sale in the gift shop.  I like art that transitions through the seasons.  This can be interpreted in many ways.  I luv that!

This smaller work also would offer different possibilities each time it was studied.  The black and white houses is a large work that reminded me of quilt blocks.

More possibilities as I am not ready to deny my quilt making roots.  hmm, and just when I was certain I liked low contrast here is black contrasted with white.  oye!

And then there was the glass work.   vbsigh  Totally NOT affordable.  I am not a pink person but I think I am going to have to rethink pink as I have lots of pink fabric, I take pink pictures and I think it is time to stop keeping it at arms length!  :O

I actually took this because I was thinking of Vicki, who is knee deep in glass pieces.  lol  But again, a quick choice of the many I could have taken.  The frame, the grid, the white space, the black scribble, the asymmetrical positioning, the possibilities for interpretation, the....

Darn, Gemini's!  We have a hard time settling on just one thing!

 This!

or This?

Curves or grids?  Muted or bright?  Grids or free form?  Abstract or still life? High contrast or low contrast?  Contemplate or create?

So as a result, I will just have to clear my schedule so I can try it all!  What if...