tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62383202486340434132024-03-14T12:49:36.089-06:00I'm Here. Might As Well Win.Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-9453819481713182802014-01-15T17:03:00.001-06:002014-01-15T17:21:46.954-06:00Good Motivation for Reading Labels to Avoid Absorbing Phthalates!<a href="http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news/even-low-levels-of-phthalate-exposure-can-increase-breast-cancer-cell-proliferation">Even Low Levels Of Phthalate Exposure Can Increase Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation - Food for Breast Cancer</a><br />
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Interesting new research suggests that American standards for phthalate levels should be reconsidered. European standards are more stringent meaning there are lower levels of phthalates in products, hence less human exposure.<br />
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I avoid them as much as possible. There are so many body care products ... soaps, lotions, shampoos, etc ... that I avoid for this reason.<br />
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I hope it's making a difference and giving me even better odds of avoiding a breast cancer recurrence.<br />
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Also compelling is <a href="http://www.panna.org/blog/eu-sparks-brouhaha-over-endocrine-disruptors">this report</a> about the "brouhaha over endocrine disruptors". Mostly what one gets out of this is that science can not necessarily be trusted. One has to look at the corporate associations of individual scientists ... if you can find it out ... and then determine their level of bias. Scientists who speak out and have no bias are the ones with credibility. It's a sad state of affairs in scientific research when scientific reporting can't be trusted. Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-2739249467303373322013-04-24T14:57:00.001-06:002013-04-24T14:57:27.601-06:00Research Suggests 'Chemo Brain' May Be Legit! No Kidding!It's about time. It's only been very recent studies that are revealing the reality of "chemo brain". So many women who have undergone breast cancer treatments report such problems and so often they're ignored, or dismissed as being only a result of the stress and anxiety caused by breast cancer. Finally some studies are showing that it's the real deal. Lord knows I've suffered quite clearly from the effect and, in fact, 3 years later, still have issues that I honestly believe I wouldn't have had otherwise.<br />
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Chemo Brain. It's for real. And it sucks. Then again, so does death by cancer. Even more so.<br />
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<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/259437.php?utm_source=feedly">Research Suggests 'Chemo Brain' May Involve Neurophysiological Change</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"For many years, breast cancer patients have reported experiencing difficulties with memory, concentration and other cognitive functions following cancer treatment. Whether this mental "fogginess" is psychosomatic or reflects underlying changes in brain function has been a bone of contention among scientists and physicians. </i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><br /></i><i>Now, a new study led by Dr. Patricia Ganz, director of cancer prevention and control research at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, demonstrates a significant correlation between poorer performance on neuropsychological tests and memory complaints in post-treatment, early-stage breast cancer patients - particularly those who have undergone combined chemotherapy and radiation.
"The study is one of the first to show that such patient-reported cognitive difficulties- often referred to as 'chemo brain' in those who have had chemotherapy- can be associated with neuropsychological test performance," said Ganz, who is also a professor of health policy and management at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA." (read more at the above link)</i></blockquote>
<br />Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-49193030161984167862013-04-24T14:52:00.001-06:002013-04-24T14:58:07.793-06:00Low-Dose Aspirin May Halt Breast CancerIf you're not already, you might want to consider taking a daily low-dose aspirin.<br />
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<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/259453.php?utm_source=feedly">Proliferation Of Two Breast Cancer Lines Stymied By Low-Dose Aspirin</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Regular use of low-dose aspirin may prevent the progression of breast cancer, according to results of a study by researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., and the University of Kansas Medical Center. </blockquote>
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The study found that aspirin slowed the growth of breast cancer cell lines in the lab and significantly reduced the growth of tumors in mice. The age-old headache remedy also exhibits the ability to prevent tumor cells from spreading." (Read more at the link above)</blockquote>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-85747150971203616532013-04-24T14:49:00.001-06:002013-04-24T14:49:25.083-06:00Seasonal Effect Revealed For Tamoxifen In Breast Cancer TreatmentIt appears that low Vitamin D correlates to less effective Tamoxifen, meaning that in winter the Tamoxifen we take might not be working for us as well as it could be. Interesting to me that the study doesn't recognize the importance of measuring our Vitamin D levels (which the Cancer Centre here has never tested for me despite the already documented link between breast cancer and low Vitamin D - go figure) and neither does it suggest increasing our Vitamin D levels via supplementation. What I infer from this report of the study is that they're suggesting perhaps we need more Tamoxifen during winter months instead. Hmmmm ...<br />
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<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/259384.php?utm_source=feedly">Seasonal Effect Revealed For Tamoxifen In Breast Cancer Treatment</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"For women diagnosed with a form of breast cancer known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, tamoxifen is an essential drug used in the treatment and prevention of recurring breast cancer. Currently, tamoxifen is used in a one-size-fits-all approach where the same dose is prescribed for every patient. </i> </blockquote>
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<i>New research at Lawson Health Research Institute has found that in addition to patient-specific genetic factors, lack of exposure to vitamin D during the long winter months affects the body's ability to metabolize the drug.
The findings, which have been reported in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, are the first to identify this seasonal effect. Dr. Richard Kim, who is a physician at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and holds the Wolfe Medical Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics at Western University, reports that during the winter months nearly 30 percent of patients are at risk for less than optimal level of the active form of tamoxifen, called endoxifen, and therefore may not benefit as much from the therapy. " (Read more at the link above)</i></blockquote>
<br />Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-77780999042652066272013-04-24T13:21:00.001-06:002013-04-24T13:21:02.493-06:00Breast Cancer Survival Not Affected By Alcohol ConsumptionThis has become pretty typical. First we're told NO, then we're told YES. I've been told to avoid alcohol and I mostly have. I have an occasional drink, which has supposedly been a non-issue but if I have a few weekends in a row where I've imbibed, I feel a twinge of concern and I chastise myself. <br />
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Now the tables have turned ... apparently (until they turn back again) ... and we learn that alcohol is a non-issue in breast cancer survival and, in fact, in moderation it may be beneficial. I feel much better about this research than the previous studies.<br />
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Tequila shots, anyone?<br />
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<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258796.php?utm_source=feedly">Breast Cancer Survival Not Affected By Alcohol Consumption</a>: <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing </span><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37136.php" style="background-color: white; color: #990099; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="What Is Breast Cancer? What Causes Breast Cancer?">breast cancer</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease. In fact, a modest survival benefit was found in women who were moderate drinkers before and after diagnosis due to a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a major cause of mortality among breast cancer survivors. (Read more at the link above)</span></blockquote>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-71460434247783143992013-04-24T12:47:00.001-06:002013-04-24T12:47:21.476-06:00Mammograms Indicate Effectiveness of Tamoxifen<div class="tr_bq">
This makes absolute sense to me. One of the key risk factors for breast cancer is hight breast density. I didn't have a mammogram until after I'd discovered my lump but I was told both by my radiologist and my surgeon that my breasts were "very dense". After chemo, radiation, and some time on Tamoxifen, my mammograms indicate that my breast tissue isn't dense at all. The thing is, my radiologist never volunteers this information. I always have to ask. It's such important information to know ... at least I thought so ... and now it turns out to be so. So please ... know about your breast density whether you've had cancer or not. It's significant.</div>
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<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/259541.php?utm_source=feedly">Mammograms Reveal Response To Common Cancer Drug</a>:<br />
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<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Tamoxifen is a common hormone therapy drug that is usually given over a course of five years to prevent relapse in women who have completed their primary </span><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37136.php" style="background-color: white; color: #990099; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="What Is Breast Cancer? What Causes Breast Cancer?">breast cancer</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> treatment. However, no method has been available for assessing which women are likely to respond to the tamoxifen and not develop relapse of breast cancer. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have now produced a possible way of doing just this.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The team looked into mammograms, which are X-ray images of the breast, for an answer. Breast tissue on a mammogram can be broadly classified into fatty or dense. The proportion of tissue which appears white is what contributes to 'density', whilst the black parts are mostly fat. Since tamoxifen has been repeatedly shown to induce a reduction in mammographic density, could it be that </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">only</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> women responding to tamoxifen treatment would exhibit a concomitant decrease in mammographic density?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The study included almost 1,000 postmenopausal women who had been treated for breast cancer. Roughly half of the group had been given tamoxifen. The women were monitored over an average of 15 years, after which 12.4 per cent (121 women) had died as a result of their</span><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/cancer-oncology/" style="background-color: white; color: #990099; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="What is Cancer?">cancer</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The team discovered that the difference in mammographic density between two mammograms taken after the initiation of tamoxifen was related to breast cancer survival. Women who experienced a pronounced density reduction of 20 percent or more upon initiation of tamoxifen were half as likely to die from breast cancer, over a span of 15 years, than those who experienced little or no change.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The researchers hope that their results will be used to assess which breast cancer patients are responding to tamoxifen treatment. Since the patient group already undergoes annual follow-up mammograms, no further examinations are needed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"What's needed is accurate measurement of mammographic density, which isn't currently routine," says Per Hall, Professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. "Measuring changes in density can be a simple and cheap means of assessing the effect of the treatment. If a patient is not responding to tamoxifen, maybe they should be given a different drug."</span></blockquote>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-19625906747754650072013-02-28T20:34:00.001-06:002013-02-28T20:36:23.192-06:00Copper and Breast Cancer. Dang!This recent research on copper and it's relationship to breast cancer is weighing heavily on my mind.<br />
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About a year ago my Naturopath had my copper levels tested (I don't remember why) among other things and when the results came back, my Family Doctor called me immediately to tell me that my copper levels were VERY high. CRAZY high. She suggested I talk to my Naturopath about it right away. And I did. My Naturopath started me on Zinc to counteract the copper. The reason my Family Doctor called first is because any tests my Naturopath wants done have to be requested by a medical doctor - it's the law in Saskatchewan.<br />
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We couldn't find any explanation for my high copper levels and I can't FEEL that I'm high in copper. Weird. And so I've been taking my zinc. But now I'll be going back to my Naturopath and my Family Doctor to get my copper levels tested again to see what's going on. I've never had my copper levels tested before so I can't know if they were high before I got breast cancer. It's interesting to me that if it's so significant, why doesn't an oncologist test for it? Then again, we know that low Vitamin D is also significantly related to breast cancer but they don't test for that either - at least mine doesn't. <br />
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Here's a report about the research. <br />
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<a href="http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news/copper-chelation-may-help-prevent-recurrence-in-high-risk-breast-cancer-patients">Copper Chelation May Help Prevent Recurrence In High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients - Food for Breast Cancer</a><br />
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Recurrence is never far from a breast cancer survivor's mind. Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-66976030142731728302013-01-21T00:13:00.000-06:002013-01-21T08:44:59.906-06:00A New Blog ... Just About QuiltingA new year. A new me. A new blog ... <a href="http://lovepeacequilt.blogspot.ca/">peace.love.quilt</a>.<br />
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It only seems fitting. I have days when I don't even think about cancer. It's wonderful! So I want to stop talking about it and spend more time making things.<br />
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I'll still update this blog from time to time but only about my health and recovery or ... please, NOOOOOO ... if cancer recurs. Since I can't know if that will happen and since I finally have days when I don't think about it, I think I can successfully LIVE like someone who is cancer free. I don't have cancer today! <br />
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My new blog ... <a href="http://lovepeacequilt.blogspot.ca/">peace.love.quilt </a>... will be just about quilting and it will be a "slow blog". I don't feel compelled to blog all the time or even regularly. I'll just blog when I have something to show or talk about as it relates to quilting. I've designed it so that photos will display larger. I have wanted to redesign this blog for a long time but was always afraid that I'd mess something up and lose all or part of it and make a huge amount of work for myself in fixing things. So this is my chance to redesign.<br />
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So, if you're interested in what I'm up to in my dining room with my sewing machine and fabric stash, please follow along at <a href="http://lovepeacequilt.blogspot.ca/">peace.love.quilt </a>.<br />
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I made a new table runner this weekend and there are photos of it over there. Check it out!Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-34531114098928164782013-01-13T17:46:00.002-06:002013-01-13T17:46:33.562-06:00Seven Wonders Table Runner for Matt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb72o6iZd1HbAC0QK53wxCCB4IG7ww7LqFtzt0KeqRS7MOxTA4IjZZCmWXCYhAOB7p3zO0_zl-ihPhcQie0YQc1zjjMImys-ha8DGv-UVNLRZ_FBYxAI_Ug8pf2-QbNy3cnMWwx7eUF5BF/s1600/P1030825.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb72o6iZd1HbAC0QK53wxCCB4IG7ww7LqFtzt0KeqRS7MOxTA4IjZZCmWXCYhAOB7p3zO0_zl-ihPhcQie0YQc1zjjMImys-ha8DGv-UVNLRZ_FBYxAI_Ug8pf2-QbNy3cnMWwx7eUF5BF/s400/P1030825.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>This is a belated Christmas gift for Matt, Hannah's boyfriend. Prepare for a lot of photos. If you want to see close-ups, just click on a photo. <br />
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I made this yesterday … my first ever table runner. All in one day! I'm sure someone else would have whipped this up in a few hours but it took me a lot longer than that. Pretty much all day. I hand sewed the binding at night. The binding was a one-movie-job. <br />
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Matt has been making some beautiful tables out of worn barn board and metal and I wanted to make something that would look good against old wood.<br />
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I think these fabrics … <a href="http://www.parsongray.com/#!seven-wonders/c1j37">Seven Wonders by David Butler</a> (aka Parson Gray) … will look nice with worn wood. Remember the <a href="http://heatheracton.blogspot.ca/2012/09/back-at-last-with-quilt-finish.html">quilt I made for Uncle Reg</a>? Well, the fabrics are by the same designer. David Butler is married to <a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/main.php?fl=0">Amy Butler</a>, famous for her fabric designs, patterns, etc. and he's also the lead vocalist with the rock band, the <a href="http://www.blackowls.com/">Black Owls</a> … just so you know. Check them out. Follow him and/or his band on Facebook. I really like his fabric designs. Earthy. Manly.<br />
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I didn't use a pattern. I just chose three fabrics for the front and cut them in sizes that best worked with the repeat in the fabric design, resulting in a 12 inch wide runner. You can see that there are basically 4 blocks sewn together. I was careful to cut the wavy and rainy fabrics in the same direction. The other fabric I wanted to show in different orientations because it gives a different effect depending on which way it lays. <br />
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For the back I was going to use a single fabric but because the runner is a bit longer than the width of fabric that I have, I chose a fabric to add to each end. The blue fabric is "wind" and the pieces on either end are "rain". The binding is the wavy fabric from the front.<br />
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Today Kevin and I were out for a bit so we looked for some places to take photos - a park, back alley fences, snow.<br />
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Seven Wonders in the Snow. <br />
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The sun finally emerged only for a little while when we got back home so I quickly pinned the runner to a neighbour's fence in our back alley and took a few sunny photos.<br />
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And some close-ups. <br />
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I'll mail this to Matt this week. He doesn't read my blog so no worries about him seeing it. If you know Matt, don't tell him.<br />
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I just LOVE these fabrics. <br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-83505537516685506082012-12-30T19:49:00.001-06:002016-04-15T18:05:28.044-06:00Dexter Is Here for Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are SO happy to have a dog for Christmas, even if we don't get to keep him. He's excellent company, does great tricks, and is well-behaved … provided we don't leave the bread or buns out on the counter when we go to bed. <br />
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He snuggles in bed with us and curls up on the couch to watche tv with us.<br />
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J'adore! <br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-48036941222441292192012-12-30T19:12:00.000-06:002012-12-30T19:12:01.813-06:00A Plus Quilt for Luke<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZneVCQjpbiIYrkbrT4D7-nA0a08N3LtpkjkW8WQ-YTrM2w734_HNNJP-zD05NYnUP8-R5hFTqlY_41ZIc4iJcd7sFIfJkioF-AkuD6TW2y9dOAZsDbJApdYPlrRQyVurXQiSL6gHfCCW/s1600/P1030769.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZneVCQjpbiIYrkbrT4D7-nA0a08N3LtpkjkW8WQ-YTrM2w734_HNNJP-zD05NYnUP8-R5hFTqlY_41ZIc4iJcd7sFIfJkioF-AkuD6TW2y9dOAZsDbJApdYPlrRQyVurXQiSL6gHfCCW/s400/P1030769.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>This quilt was such a pleasure to make, partly because it came together so easily and mostly because it's the first quilt I've made for any of my own immediate family. It's for Luke. He's a mathematician so a "plus quilt" seemed appropriate. The fabrics aren't from any one line. They're all reds, creams, blacks, greys, and taupes. I included fabrics that have fleur de lis on them because it's the symbol I most see in Louisville. I also included fabric with crowns on it because he is, after all, my prince. And I included some Sweetwater Hometown fabric that has the names of cities from around the world. I made sure to include some pieces that have "Saskatoon" on them as well as some other cities Luke has been to.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh03JIVVXfrilODrkJ7shauCx6xwayG5M7DuMsJo40rn1l9AFoG0ePNH0w32h-IcfNePUn3lXzUQhZgsJxSC7OaO2pxp8r5xBDIuh11qKPIdutFugETl31TKxZXIKjxvtm6LbrmKcGfbNU/s1600/P1030767.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh03JIVVXfrilODrkJ7shauCx6xwayG5M7DuMsJo40rn1l9AFoG0ePNH0w32h-IcfNePUn3lXzUQhZgsJxSC7OaO2pxp8r5xBDIuh11qKPIdutFugETl31TKxZXIKjxvtm6LbrmKcGfbNU/s400/P1030767.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>Since I hadn't decided on the finished size of the quilt, I waited until the top was finished at the end of November before going to Periwinkle to pick up the backing fabric I'd had my eye on - super soft and cuddly black dimpled minky. I'd been watching it regularly and even the week before there was still TONS of it on the bolt. When I went to get it, though, someone had arrived only 20 minutes before I got there and bought ALL NINE METERS of it! All of it. Gone! The people at Periwinkle were great, though, and were able to get some in just in time for Lynette (who longarm quilted it for me in an all-over pattern) to do her magic. I got it back the Saturday before Christmas. That night, fortunately, Luke was out and I spent the evening doing the binding and getting it machine sewed on to the front. There was no way I would get the hand sewing part done so I wrapped it up for Christmas as it was and did the hand sewing a couple of days ago. It was a 4 movie job and since I was … am … mostly sick with a nasty head cold, it was just the kind of sewing I could do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbgJKvI4qbPlEVtXFxVZKIBMCtxAeF_SDTCJcHSxwIBgkQsW4bDoddQU5CD9at-amlvfm8RTIjR2Y24rHJX0cX9MUZyTERCC1w9NqfEiHfbT0wqKRxNVUsUalpzyOk_c8l59Dhh6eIQEc/s1600/P1030765.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbgJKvI4qbPlEVtXFxVZKIBMCtxAeF_SDTCJcHSxwIBgkQsW4bDoddQU5CD9at-amlvfm8RTIjR2Y24rHJX0cX9MUZyTERCC1w9NqfEiHfbT0wqKRxNVUsUalpzyOk_c8l59Dhh6eIQEc/s400/P1030765.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>So today we took some photos before I wash it. <br />
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I ended up a few inches short on my binding and while I could have easily added some scraps from any of the fabrics used on the front, I was feeling a little edgy and so added a touch of shot cotton in blue. After it comes out of the wash, that's where I'll write a little note for my boy.<br />
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Next ... baby quilts (SO MANY BABIES!!) and then a quilt for Hannah. <br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-5906045874481333962012-12-30T15:30:00.000-06:002012-12-31T01:00:04.373-06:00Dresden for Auntie Anne and Learning About Thread<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6gEQtB7edo_5badN8vJVbpy7UykxXkzL7f1tERw2pOrfl7IJKrMVuNeJjjDYmSnHLRiJpUzBFNz2PNesB2r_IIGdCPZcz0INvQI-tBnzltQERx6mhhmSE__iNkL8ms1zmS_QuHTe81M/s1600/P1030733.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6gEQtB7edo_5badN8vJVbpy7UykxXkzL7f1tERw2pOrfl7IJKrMVuNeJjjDYmSnHLRiJpUzBFNz2PNesB2r_IIGdCPZcz0INvQI-tBnzltQERx6mhhmSE__iNkL8ms1zmS_QuHTe81M/s400/P1030733.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>Auntie Anne celebrated her 80th birthday this Christmas and since I was on a mug rug roll, I made one for her. I've had and wanted to try out a dresden ruler for some time and so I busted it out for her mug rug. <br />
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A few firsts went into this mug rug - dresdens and machine quilting that isn't just straight lines. I learned a thing or two and so I made another dresden mug rug for Mom for Christmas and I think it turned out better, though I forgot to get a photo of it in my rush. <br />
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For Mom's, instead of machine appliqueing the dresden to the background fabric, I just pinned it securely and attached it with the quilting stitches. It turned out better that way. I got better at knowing when to pivot with my second effort. The centre of the dresden looks a little more balanced (more round and less hilly) with my 2nd effort, too … I think because I used one less dresden piece.<br />
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I'm finding mug rugs good test projects for bigger things. I've confirmed that I want to do a bigger dresden project.<br />
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Something else I learned is that thread really matters both in piecing and machine quilting. Mettler threads in my machine are a marked improvement over Guterman. Aurifil and Sulky threads are even better. Aurifil is definitely my go-to thread for piecing after trying a few different brands and I'll be picking up some when I'm next in Kentucky, which is where I picked up the ones I have now. I don't know of any place to get it here. The variegated Sulky thread I machine quilted the mug rugs with worked very nicely in my machine, too. Interestingly, when I was machine quilting Robert's baby quilt, I was using various colours of Mettler silk-coated cotton thread and the colour yellow worked for me so much better than the other colours. Orange worked better than green and Blue was the worst. That whole quilting experience was so traumatizing, I didn't even get to the brown thread I was going to include. The memory still gives me the shakes. Still, odd that the colour of the thread could make a difference. While hand sewing bindings on the mug rugs, I noticed that different coloured threads in the same line sometimes had different textures, some being smoother than others. What a lot to learn!<br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-48315073943013582032012-12-30T14:00:00.000-06:002012-12-30T18:55:21.050-06:00Co-op Mug Rugs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG9syCtNntIO1NXVIPPEzfrZuV61_rzSFM-3_9VKcREUJfy8eMMGl-G9L9lgnQSPaqu-KBnNFkncY0PbGODleFA1xBm4QLtcLGEkaR81h5Qh2wzI57YPvJn5jyfT0SwAlpZLxv9_38d5H/s1600/P1030724.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG9syCtNntIO1NXVIPPEzfrZuV61_rzSFM-3_9VKcREUJfy8eMMGl-G9L9lgnQSPaqu-KBnNFkncY0PbGODleFA1xBm4QLtcLGEkaR81h5Qh2wzI57YPvJn5jyfT0SwAlpZLxv9_38d5H/s400/P1030724.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>I work at the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan and since the United Nations declared 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives, it seemed important to mark the year in a crafty way.<br />
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Just in case you didn't know, the rainbow flag is one of the symbols used by co-operatives, representing the seven guiding principles of the co-operative model. So, with that in mind, I made each of my colleagues a rainbow mug rug and then backed each one with fabric from my stash that I felt most reminded me of that person. I even made one for myself, though I still hadn't finished the binding at the time I took photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO1hyhbckfiL1dFxELSF-MlzpqmbbMTGsD3lDFARt5du7nrtOHI4UDYU9C-VpQTpkbZlFoYB1v9akCt29t0GpjpiFH6stE5nEsEtvxKC8JI2hq-DhyphenhyphenU_8C_JCWhqaCasnwCXJhMoHLfWJ/s1600/P1030726.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO1hyhbckfiL1dFxELSF-MlzpqmbbMTGsD3lDFARt5du7nrtOHI4UDYU9C-VpQTpkbZlFoYB1v9akCt29t0GpjpiFH6stE5nEsEtvxKC8JI2hq-DhyphenhyphenU_8C_JCWhqaCasnwCXJhMoHLfWJ/s400/P1030726.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>With renovations recently done in our building, the room where we regularly had lunch is now sometimes booked for events meaning we often have to eat lunch at our desks. I thought these might come in handy for that purpose. I won a mug rug a couple of years ago and it has been the handiest thing to have sitting in front of our desktop computer. <br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-73317109019393118432012-12-30T13:00:00.000-06:002012-12-30T18:52:00.052-06:00A Baby Quilt for Robert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YpIZToTb0jLuyavqVMFrtdLQj5zbf2Md3Gj1VwmXDSy9bodDNRJ7BNzwiss1ux_4Dg39pN3w9RNxmfIFi9m2up2MI7IxfYeT1vPoAw67751wHyARo80h1OloJReSzw3dxvwiwUM3LGKC/s1600/P1030697.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YpIZToTb0jLuyavqVMFrtdLQj5zbf2Md3Gj1VwmXDSy9bodDNRJ7BNzwiss1ux_4Dg39pN3w9RNxmfIFi9m2up2MI7IxfYeT1vPoAw67751wHyARo80h1OloJReSzw3dxvwiwUM3LGKC/s400/P1030697.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>Well, it took me over a year. It's approaching "toddler quilt" status. But it's done. Josh and Noelene are both pilots, hence all the planes and copters!<br />
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This is my first attempt at machine quilting. Just straight lines. I hadn't anticipated any trouble but man, was I wrong! I had a terrible time with that minky fabric I backed it with. You would think that minky, which is so soft, would slide easily across surfaces but not so. Static developed and I really struggled with getting it through my machine. I unpicked threads, I pulled, I wore machine quilting gloves to help push. Finally what worked best was trying to lift as much of the quilt off the surface as possible and even creating a bubble of air just before the fabric when under the needle. Of course, this led to all kinds of other problems such as a few puckers here and there. After each line I stitched, I spewed many, many bad words and after completing 2 or 3 lines, I would have to take a break to calm my nerves before going back to it. It took me all bloody night! I was up until 3:00 a.m. I was a mess!
It was a very traumatizing experience and I was quite disappointed in how it came out. Not nearly so nice as I intended.<br />
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Regardless, I am undaunted. I know now that I need one of those Super Slippery things that attach to the sewing surface that will allow the fabric to slide more easily. I'll be getting one of those.<br />
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After finishing the quilt, I contemplated what to do with some leftover squares I had. I decided to put them together and make it rectangular by using some bits of pieces of scraps and ended up with a smaller quilt. It's probably a nice size for a wee baby play mat or for a quilt for a big stuffed critter. At any rate, I'm sure they'll find a use for it. If Robbie doesn't claim it ... maybe a NEW little one will enjoy it!! Yes, Noelene shared the exciting news that she and Josh are going to be having another child in 2013. I'd better get some baby quilts in the vault because I know of several babies being born in the next few months and I want to be able to give them quilts. Boys? Girls? Who knows? I'd best be prepared!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30m92rulDoHvXgSEkC-SNn7IWF7NAwIiTAv3ygM2PUl7ddeu3KZV27vTgaNBwQa_EbE9k-tJov7W38NoqeLmB8H_T_-BABtOeHVT_EQ-cESJK1oVMbEdIoHSqFh1TkzvQ8ya2z8tkfHri/s1600/P1030694.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30m92rulDoHvXgSEkC-SNn7IWF7NAwIiTAv3ygM2PUl7ddeu3KZV27vTgaNBwQa_EbE9k-tJov7W38NoqeLmB8H_T_-BABtOeHVT_EQ-cESJK1oVMbEdIoHSqFh1TkzvQ8ya2z8tkfHri/s400/P1030694.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>We were able to Skype with Robert and his family on Christmas day. He looked to be having a perfectly wonderful Christmas with his Grandma and Grandpa Kerr and Aunt Kathy there, too.<br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-74735247256131793282012-12-29T18:41:00.000-06:002012-12-30T18:43:45.509-06:00Hannah Comes Home For Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS2TFVVndGMmLUF84hau1segOgC_v3VY_Fpdlrp_2wabH-LWCNlEZJdGEuegsxU6kqUAW9DIQr4HwoZd1jcJEobEhFXaHkiy8I8LrDh3xcwK93RhQMS7KTfYNK2dCZ76lSJqqh4w3-AHi/s1600/P1030708.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS2TFVVndGMmLUF84hau1segOgC_v3VY_Fpdlrp_2wabH-LWCNlEZJdGEuegsxU6kqUAW9DIQr4HwoZd1jcJEobEhFXaHkiy8I8LrDh3xcwK93RhQMS7KTfYNK2dCZ76lSJqqh4w3-AHi/s400/P1030708.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>It's so nice to have both of our kids home for Christmas. For the first time in we can't remember when, we all decorated the tree together after Hannah got home.With Hannah home, we also got to see some of her friends who are still here or, at least, here for Christmas. Leah, Cody, and a bunch more. Sadly, we did not get to see Kayla, Gillian, Marissa, or Katelyn (except briefly at Shelley's and Ian's Christmas party).<br />
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Luke is not allowed to hang balls on the tree anymore!<br />
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Hannah came home carrying 3 boxes of home-made gluten free cookies that she had made in Vancouver. Beautiful … and delicious, too! She decorated the box in the style of my heart/peace ring that I've been wearing since I was 13. <br />
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The holidays went by too quickly and before we knew it we were waving goodbye to Hannah at the airport. In a couple of days we'll be doing the same with Luke. Boohoo. <br />
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Of course, both of them are probably glad to escape. We all got sick over Christmas. Kevin started (thanks, Kev) the ball rolling with a nasty cold just before Christmas. Hannah and Luke both caught it, though Hannah seemed best able to hold it to a minimum and she got out of Dodge before it got worse. Luke, on the other hand, got it the worst! He got a stomach flu with it, has been feverish, feels very crappy, and was given penicillin when he went to the medi-clinic yesterday. He's still not feeling any better. Me neither. I caught it last … starting on boxing day … and have felt very awful ever since. It's really socked in. Luke doesn't remember a time when he's been so sick and is feeling a little frustrated. He had planned on going to the gym and getting his lacrosse stick in his hands every day while here so he'll be ready to start his last college lacrosse season as soon as he gets back to Louisville in the new year. That gym thing hasn't been happening and he's even lost weight because of his sore throat and ears! Not good for an athlete who has trouble keeping pounds on in the first place. He might never want to come home again!
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-18369844563020665492012-12-14T16:44:00.001-06:002012-12-14T16:44:19.192-06:00Luke's Home for Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI9fJ9NyYdX3GPAjXJUUDT3lTbFEXP2SPt18vj1KTnFJ-hPPm5ZkP4Tu8ldKcWHjTZGr33gXhQr4SieOV-TZ2acKyn90zZa4qKlSGjec9WoAaby0QNT858Ks8fZmwHSbX4QBETog9ul9N/s1600/The+Boys+2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI9fJ9NyYdX3GPAjXJUUDT3lTbFEXP2SPt18vj1KTnFJ-hPPm5ZkP4Tu8ldKcWHjTZGr33gXhQr4SieOV-TZ2acKyn90zZa4qKlSGjec9WoAaby0QNT858Ks8fZmwHSbX4QBETog9ul9N/s400/The+Boys+2.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a>And when Luke comes home, all our other boys come home, too! I missed some latecomers in this group shot and a few who couldn't make it … some because they had exams this morning.<br />
<br />
In case you're not sure which one is our Luke, he's the one with the black LA ball cap ... and the MOUSTACHE!! None of them can be contenders with Kevin's moustache and Movember beard-like thing. <br />
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Evan's eyes were half closed for the group shot so I've made sure to include a photo where his eyes are open. This was taken after the 2nd batch of young men arrived ... and then they kept on coming. Girls, too.<br />
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Kevin and I smiled so much all night our faces hurt today.<br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-45593552957821634082012-12-05T15:03:00.003-06:002012-12-05T15:05:25.313-06:00Belated Giveaway WinnerI'm a little late with the results for my giveaway ... well, a LOT late actually. Nonetheless, Teresa has just won this little bundle of fat quarters! Congratulations Teresa! I'll email you and get your contact information right away.<br />
<br />
I used an online random number generator and with numbers from 1-19 (inclusive, it spit out #10 as the winner and that person is Teresa. <br />
<br />
#10 Teresa wrote: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="comment-content" id="bc_0_9MC">
Saskatchewan...I
tried to convince my husband to move there for years! My best friend
and her family just moved to Yorkton. My cousin moved to...I'm actually
not sure where in SK she lives. We moved to NS...and love it.</div>
</blockquote>
Thanks to all 19 who entered!<br />
<br />
I have no quilty things to show, by the way, because (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), some of these things will be given as gifts. I expect a plethora of backlogged visuals throughout the quilting blogisphere come January.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUIwhAjISyRNTbnHWK_tzeoJazhYqtybW2vbfwSzZ6SMiNjoyiWzNq7jcKuPcGkLUTvK_qFIgQpf5aC0zrRpxx9zuyTZjOIQV23MJJdGpQevzqHq4J9tPyRe_leQ26bSXCQcdlvZX4mOS/s1600/Giveaway+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUIwhAjISyRNTbnHWK_tzeoJazhYqtybW2vbfwSzZ6SMiNjoyiWzNq7jcKuPcGkLUTvK_qFIgQpf5aC0zrRpxx9zuyTZjOIQV23MJJdGpQevzqHq4J9tPyRe_leQ26bSXCQcdlvZX4mOS/s400/Giveaway+2012.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-10547252517664925012012-11-21T00:58:00.003-06:002012-11-22T20:27:55.025-06:00Canadian Quilters Connect & FIrst Giveaway<a href="http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/p/blogathon-canada.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_self"><img alt="SewSistersQuiltShop" height="150" src=" http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg519/CarolSRichard/blogathon_badge_150px.png " width="150" /></a> Thank you Patti (of <a href="http://retiredtoquilt.blogspot.ca/">Retired to Quilt</a>) for including me in the list of Saskatchewan Quilt Bloggers. I feel like a bit of a poser among the others but I'm starting to feel more and more like a REAL quilter all the time!<br />
<br />
And thank you <a href="http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/p/blogathon-canada.html#">Sew Sisters Quilt Shop</a> for hosting this wonderful event and for including me. I'm very excited to find more Canadian quilt bloggers!<br />
<br />
Welcome visitors. <br />
<br />
Obviously quilting hasn't been the primary purpose of my blog but I'm happy to say I'm moving in that direction thanks to knocking down most of my hurdles. Click on the "<a href="http://heatheracton.blogspot.ca/p/quilts.html">QUILTS</a>" tab above to get some idea of the quilting I've been doing. Maybe you'll want to check back from time to time. I hope to have my Plus Quilt top done this weekend and soon I hope to undertake my first machine quilting! YIKES!<br />
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<br />
And, oh yes, my first ever <span style="color: red;"><b>GIVEAWAY!</b></span> The thing is I don't know what it will be yet. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><b>(Oh yes, I do ... scroll down to see what it is)</b></i></span>. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Meanwhile, just add a comment to be entered. International entries are most welcome. In your comment, tell me something you associate with Saskatchewan or share a Saskatchewan experience. And feel free to say so if you had to Google "Saskatchewan". </b></span><br />
<br />
I'll make the draw and announce the winner on November 25, after the tour has finished. <br />
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Good luck and enjoy visiting all the blogs!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Addendum:</b></span><br />
<br />
Here's what I'm giving away - 5 fat quarters. I think they're lovely. They're all from one fabric line except for the lime green chicopee at the top. I took this photo at night since I hardly ever see real day light during the week except out my window at work (thank GOD I have a window), so the colours aren't exactly true. In the photo the chicopee looks yellow instead of lime green and that tone on tone grid is actually more red than orange. Click on the links below to see better online photos of each fabric. Darkness sucks ... just sayin'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr1-WrnFEVPCNURAYoavQ7bipDUYOQTNxZ-gCAGyclTvdeIQhXVXy7nSDhBiK6wvIEAum7jJouOIwvHCOFSdXRfw3BjTFxEfNZNMTGQGaX6Yh0BxyPqcH-IvOeNY0g7ztT_x5H6_XO58I/s1600/Giveaway+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr1-WrnFEVPCNURAYoavQ7bipDUYOQTNxZ-gCAGyclTvdeIQhXVXy7nSDhBiK6wvIEAum7jJouOIwvHCOFSdXRfw3BjTFxEfNZNMTGQGaX6Yh0BxyPqcH-IvOeNY0g7ztT_x5H6_XO58I/s400/Giveaway+2012.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div>
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From top to bottom</div>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.crazyquiltgirlfabricshop.com/servlet/the-4458/chicopee-heatwave-stripe-lime/Detail">Chicopee - Heatwave Stripe Lime</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.studioefabrics.com/shop/product/e60-1568-99/">Restoration - Large Medallion Black</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.studioefabrics.com/shop/product/e60-1573-88/">Restoration - Check Red</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.studioefabrics.com/shop/product/e60-1571-99/">Restoration - Intertwined Lace Black</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.studioefabrics.com/shop/product/e60-1569-99/">Restoration - Stripe Black</a></li>
</ol>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-64811726934140480762012-11-20T21:57:00.002-06:002012-11-21T11:41:59.868-06:00Tag! I'm It!Sam (from Eatonia, Saskatchewan) who blogs at <a href="http://quiltingcurve.blogspot.ca/">Quilting Curve</a> has tagged me in a "get to know the quilter" game. I feel a little sheepish even being considered a quilter since I'm really quite a novice but since I have actually finished a few quilts for real, I guess that qualifies me as a quilter ... even if I do feel like a poser! <br />
<br />
First, I guess, I have to list 11 random things about myself. Then I have to answer 11 questions Sam asked. And then I have to tag some other quilter/bloggers.<br />
<br />
By the way, Sam's <a href="http://quiltingcurve.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-everest-of-quilts-personal-tale.html">HERON QUILT</a> - of her own design - is absolutely stunning! <br />
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Read more after the jump if you're interested. Just click the "read more" link below.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>So here we go. Part 1. Eleven random things about me.</b><br />
<ol>
<li>I grew up on a Saskatchewan farm and am so glad that I did.</li>
<li>I love and have always loved to be surrounded by books. </li>
<li>I miss having a dog and all the more now that we don't have cats anymore either. </li>
<li>My kids - Hannah and Luke - amaze me so much! I often marvel that they're really our children. Maybe we just drew a super lucky stork card. They both live far away from here but I don't worry about them because they're both doing great.</li>
<li>I've been reading about quilts and studying them for almost 30 years and it has taken until less than 2 years ago for me to actually sew my first quilting seam on a machine. I was terrified of a sewing machine. Strange considering my Mom sewed almost everything I wore. </li>
<li>I fight the notion of perfectionism and feel so liberated when I can let go the notion that anything has to be "perfect". I'm getting better at being liberated. </li>
<li>I used to read the newspaper every morning for years until 2 years ago when I suddenly stopped. I don't miss it. If there's something I ought to know, surely someone will tell me. </li>
<li>My blog didn't start as a quilting blog and I'm not sure it really is one quite yet, though that's the direction I would most like to go with it. Full time work gets in the way of all the quilting I wish I could be doing.</li>
<li>I'm not very good with plants. When one appears to be actually thriving and I get a little excited it usually takes a turn for the worse. I should not be allowed to be responsible for indoor plants. </li>
<li>Housekeeping is not my forte. Whatever. </li>
<li>My husband Kevin (of 27 years) is both good to and for me. He is almost always cheerful and full of energy, enthusiasm, love, and silliness. </li>
</ol>
<b>And now for Sam's questions for me ... </b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Did you have an artistic background leading up to quilting?</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Isn't everyone an artist? Honestly, no formal artistic background. I think of my parents as artists even though neither of them had any formal artistic training either. They are the most resourceful people I've ever known and are so creative. My Dad is no longer alive but the things he and Mom have made are so nice to have around. Honestly, there's nothing they couldn't make, fix, or repurpose, big or small. They are and always will be my creative heroes!</blockquote>
<b>2. What would you change about your quilting studio/space?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Uhhhh ... I would find somewhere other than our dining room and living room to quilt in. How I would love anything remotely similar to a "studio". *sigh*</blockquote>
<b>3. If you could describe your quilting style in one word would what would that word be?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Novice. Or, if I must get past my insecurities ... Modern ... whatever that means.</blockquote>
<b>4. Fess up, how many UFO's do you have? (LOL you don't have to answer that if it hurts)</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Seven. Four finished and seven left to finish.<br />
<ol>
<li>The first quilt top I made using a crap sewing machine.</li>
<li>A baby quilt I made next using the same crap machine but at least it's basted and ready to finish.</li>
<li>A yo-yo quilt. I've made about 600 yoyo's and have another 600 or so to go.</li>
<li>A queen-sized vintage handkerchief quilt for my daughter. Eleven of the handkerchiefs are hand appliqued on and I have 9 to go.</li>
<li>A child-sized vintage handkerchief quilt. I'm part way through the hand quilting and then I just need to add a ruffle.</li>
<li>A baby quilt for my nephew's baby. The quilt top is done (a square in square design) and I just need to baste and quilt it. </li>
<li>I've started a plus quilt and I hope to have the top finished this weekend. Then I'd better stop cutting fabric and start finishing. The thing is, I've never machine quilted and I'm a little afraid to start. I'm going to bit the bullet, though, within the next week or so.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<b>5. What inspires you to quilt? (show and tell, daily objects, dreams, blogs etc...). </b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Love inspires me to quilt. Love of family and friends and the love that I know is sewn into a every quilt. I do dream fantastic quilts. I just have to remember to draw them quick before the dreams get lost. </blockquote>
<b>6. What kind of information quilt wise, have you had trouble finding on the internet?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I can't think of a single thing I haven't been able to find on the internet when I've gone looking. That said, I love having quilt books nearby, too.</blockquote>
<b>7. What is your favorite organization technique? (quilt wise)</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I lay everything out on the floor or a bed and then take a photo which I keep handy on my laptop for when I start sewing. The photo serves as my map. It has saved me so many times from getting my pieces messed up! </blockquote>
<b>8. What colour would you like to paint in your quilting studio/space?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I would have a hard time choosing, I know that. I change my mind about colour by the moment, though I would want the kind of colours that would make the room feel bright, cheery, and airy. Probably some yellows and whites in the mix.</blockquote>
<b>9. If you could visit any country or place where would you go? </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I've never been to Europe and I've always joked with my kids that someday they'll take me to Paris. So I'll say Paris, though honestly, I would like to go pretty much anywhere. I find every place I've been fascinating in one way or another. I'm curious about the world.</blockquote>
<b>
10. What is your favorite meal right now?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hamburger soup is hitting the spot.<b><br /></b></blockquote>
<b>
11. Where do you buy your fabric?</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
At <a href="http://www.periwinkle.biz/index.html">Periwinkle Quilt Shop</a> and from several online shops. </blockquote>
<br />
And now to tag some others who may or may not want to play along. Like Sam, I encourage those I've tagged to do as they please and to not feel obligated to take part. If it's not fun for you, don't do it. As I understand it, I'm to choose quilt bloggers who have less than 200 followers.<br />
<br />
Okay. I'm having trouble finding any (let alone 11) quilt bloggers who fit the criteria and need a little more time. Awl be bach!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Linda at <a href="http://bumbleknit.blogspot.ca/">Scrapmaster </a></li>
<li>Patti at <a href="http://retiredtoquilt.blogspot.ca/">Retired to Quilt</a></li>
<li>Kate at <a href="http://bythebabblingbrooke.blogspot.ca/">By the Babbling Brooke</a></li>
<li><br /></li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>And here are your 11 questions:</b><br />
<ol>
<li> Of which of your quilts are you most proud?</li>
<li> What's the first quilt you remember fondly?</li>
<li> Is Christmas for you typically a big, boisterous holiday or a quiet, peaceful one?</li>
<li> Do you usually use quilt patterns or do your own thing?</li>
<li> Describe what your favourite day at home might be like.</li>
<li> What kind of sewing machine do you use and are you happy with it? </li>
<li>Do you sew things besides quilts? If so, what?</li>
<li>Do you have a favourite fabric line or fabric designer? </li>
<li>What quilting technique that you're a little afraid of would you most like to master?</li>
<li>Have you ever put a quilt of yours in a show? </li>
<li>What was your most noteable "aha quilting moment"?</li>
</ol>
<b>And ... the tag game rules:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>
Every tagged person has to tell 11 things about themselves.</li>
<li>The person who tagged you asked 11 questions over at their blog, answer these questions in your post.</li>
<li>Ask 11 questions of the 11 people you tag (any quilting blogger with under 200 followers).</li>
<li>Mention the person who tagged you (but don't for goodness sake tag them back!) </li>
</ul>
Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-42439824045402159312012-11-20T20:06:00.000-06:002012-11-21T15:07:36.612-06:00Exciting Vintage Fabric Development<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl3pkk7hnIMCr3jx4wAPcE-JaPNkdkdA-M8ovH7dHwpT1PllwAp3UVuP33cnkYELmUja1qrFsMYqBXRMZTLmt3pslx-tPz8G9vUdVlKJWrH84mFIDQ0EHDl3ZFquwHe6K5eFTIaoKlONb/s1600/AAA+fabric+large.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl3pkk7hnIMCr3jx4wAPcE-JaPNkdkdA-M8ovH7dHwpT1PllwAp3UVuP33cnkYELmUja1qrFsMYqBXRMZTLmt3pslx-tPz8G9vUdVlKJWrH84mFIDQ0EHDl3ZFquwHe6K5eFTIaoKlONb/s400/AAA+fabric+large.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In March of this year I posted about this fabric pictured here. Mom and I had discovered it in the bags of scraps Mom had brought to the city for us to sort through and cut into quilt squares. I didn't recognize this fabric and Mom thought it must be from Grandma Kerr's scraps. There were some quite large pieces of it and it had obviously been used to make some garment. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was fascinated with the fabric right away. It's a very high quality cotton to my mind and the design on it is so artistic and detailed and finely reproduced. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SS5bgUa2Sd70pWJKZSaYVv0Pnb5UzNJQtclhk6AbJScvyHL6bDqATikwax6GjweaMjIedZvDHKUM0M7fL6cMhgCS14wd9mVYI6pFAl09vGOg-O7bXe0n0G08jutYeiSy3hiTyN3E5mYa/s1600/AAA+fabric+selvage.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SS5bgUa2Sd70pWJKZSaYVv0Pnb5UzNJQtclhk6AbJScvyHL6bDqATikwax6GjweaMjIedZvDHKUM0M7fL6cMhgCS14wd9mVYI6pFAl09vGOg-O7bXe0n0G08jutYeiSy3hiTyN3E5mYa/s400/AAA+fabric+selvage.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, bonus, we found a piece of the selvedge that reads, "<span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.9px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"</span><i style="background-color: white; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.9px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">A Signature Fabric, "Rubaiyat", created by Vincent Malta of Associated American Artists, copyright 1955.</i><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.9px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">" I don't recall fabrics ever having information in the selv<span style="font-size: small;">ed</span>ge when I was a kid and since this fabric is from before I was born, I thought that alone meant there must be something special about it. I did some rudimentary Googling but didn't find anything.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, On Oct 31, I got a comment on my <span style="font-size: small;">blog post </span>from someone named Ariele who wrote, <i>"</i><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.9px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>It is part of a large series created by other American Artists. Here is a link for more info. There is another I've seen from 1953 titled "Iliad",</i> and she provided a link to a pdf article about this series of fabrics. My fabric wasn't listed in the table provided in the article so I Googled the author of the article<span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Karen Herbaugh</b>, a curator at the </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.athm.org/"><b>American Textile History Museum</b></a> in </span><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lowell, Massachussetts. So I emailed her, sent some photos and asked her if it's of any interest or if I should just go ahead and cut it up into a quilt. She promptly responded that she would really rather I NOT cut it up into a quilt and that they would like to have some of it for the museum, which houses the largest museum collection of <b>Associated American Artists</b> (AAA) fabrics. She is currently working on a book about AAA fabrics in collaboration with Kansas State University and was unaware of the <span style="font-size: small;">existence</span> of this particular fabric, though there are some others in the series by the same artist, which explains why this fabric wasn't listed in the table in the article I read.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">She writes, "</span><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Between 1951 and 1957 artists belonging to the Associated American Artists strayed into designing textiles prints as a means to make extra money so they could pursue their art careers</i>." </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In my email to Karen I speculated on where my Grandma might have come across this fabric. Karen wrote, "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">AAA fabrics were sold at high-end department stores around the country. I have seen pictures of store window displays including Macy’s in New York City. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Maybe your grandmother did get it on one of her family trips. I haven’t seen it advertised in Sears catalogues but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t.</i>"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">So I'm going to gift <span style="font-size: small;">t</span>he American Textile History Museum with the largest pieces of this fabric and the intact selvedge and the smaller bits that I keep will go into a very special quilt square. I really do wonder where it came from in the first place.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I LOVE THE INTERNET!!</span></span></span><br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-31209421105580764602012-11-19T23:08:00.000-06:002012-11-19T23:10:45.568-06:00Blogathon Canada - Nov 19 - 24, 2012 (Canadian Quilters Connect)<a href="http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/p/blogathon-canada.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_self"><img alt="SewSistersQuiltShop" height="150" src=" http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg519/CarolSRichard/blogathon_badge_150px.png " width="150" /></a>I'm pretty excited about this event that starts today. I follow lots of quilting blogs but I get especially excited when I discover a Canadian quilting blog and even MORE excited when I find one really close to home. Recently I found a few Saskatoon quilt bloggers and even met a few of them over coffee, which was very exciting. I'm not going to list them here because Patti of <a href="http://retiredtoquilt.blogspot.ca/">Retired to Quilt</a> will be listing the ones she knows of on Wednesday. But on the other days quilt bloggers from all across Canada will be posting links to other quilt bloggers in their areas. <br />
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And there will be giveaways! If you're interested in sewing, crafting, quilting, you should follow along.<br />
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Click on the Blogathon Canada button above to see the schedule of bloggers.<br />
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The event is hosted by <a href="http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/p/blogathon-canada.html">Sew Sisters Quilt Shop</a>. Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-78459195508679176662012-11-19T22:41:00.001-06:002012-11-19T22:41:20.045-06:00No Booze for ME!Every now and then I need a reminder that drinking any kind of alcohol is not recommended for me and that it increases my risk of breast cancer. This is my note to self after having some drinks while in Vancouver and since I've been home. No more martinis for me ... for a while. <br />
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<a href="http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news/healthy-diet-does-not-offset-heightened-breast-cancer-risk-from-alcohol-consumption">Healthy Diet Does Not Offset Heightened Breast Cancer Risk From Alcohol Consumption - Food for Breast Cancer</a>Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-28017737454556097062012-11-19T22:13:00.002-06:002012-11-19T22:20:27.236-06:00Now. Where Was I? Oh, Yeah ... QUILTS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UtSBafZR7OeM6ZlAFPUUlbUms-9vYqMFfKlu0kCS8917ebeccW3aZatGxt5HuPXPMGldgfAX630vaYiQ4ilXHDWpXt-hYZ-wTZNqnHqv2mAsHeQ9QV1-wXloxRqBEfaQ7LOp4kCxQbxZ/s1600/P1030593.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UtSBafZR7OeM6ZlAFPUUlbUms-9vYqMFfKlu0kCS8917ebeccW3aZatGxt5HuPXPMGldgfAX630vaYiQ4ilXHDWpXt-hYZ-wTZNqnHqv2mAsHeQ9QV1-wXloxRqBEfaQ7LOp4kCxQbxZ/s400/P1030593.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a>I haven't made much quilting progress lately. I would love nothing more than a week at home alone to just sew and sew and sew. I've been experiencing some "life interuptus" and now it's time to get back to doing what I want to do, which is SEW.<br />
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This mess of reds, greys, blacks, and creams will be a completed quilt top this week ... I hope. I got all 21 strips sewn and these are them overlapped in order on the dining room table. Now I need to spend time pressing all the seams open followed by sewing all the strips together. And then the top will be done unless I decide it needs to be bigger, which would mean some borders. I'll worry about that later. This pattern is called, I think, a "plus quilt" because it's a bunch of interlocking plus signs. I've been wanting to make one for some time.<br />
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Kevin and I went to Vancouver last week for 5 days to see Hannah and to get out of Saskatoon for a bit. We had both been very busy with work and a little vacation was required. <br />
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We stayed on the top floor of the Sutton Hotel in downtown Vancouver and it was a wonderful luxury.<br />
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We had lots of time with Hannah, Matt, and some of their friends. We shopped a lot and ate at some fabulous restaurants.<br />
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Matt, Hannah, and Leah cooked for us one night and we attended an art opening. We tried to go to the new James Bond movie across the street from our hotel but no luck. It was sold out. <br />
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I haven't posted for so long so I'm including a couple of extra photos from October. Here is the sad deconstruction of the Traffic Bridge (aka: the Victoria Bridge, the Iron Bridge, the Skinny Bridge). I'm sad to see it go. I'm all for it being reincarnated in a simiilar style but as a pedestrian/bicycle bridge. I know others would like to see it used for vehicles again but I'd prefer not.<br />
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I took part in the C95 Radio Marathon for breast cancer research again this year. I get better every year at not crying. I only cried a little bit this time, though I know my voice was pinched almost the whole time because I was trying hard not to cry. This is me with Rob and Shauna. They are such genuinely nice people ... and I'm not just saying that just because they noticed how much thicker my hair is now than last year (which isn't saying much). I really don't know how THEY hold it together for the duration of the marathon. I'll bet they need a holiday after it's over. There are so many other people that make the event happen and they do such a fantastic job. I will always remember how kind, caring, and encouraging Lisa was the first time I was on the radio marathon only a few weeks after my last chemo. RIP Lisa.<br />
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And this is a little bouquet that Sylvia gave me. So sweet!<br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-70519131691640893742012-10-31T11:22:00.002-06:002012-10-31T11:22:51.156-06:00Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2012 - 90 Squares of a Curious Nature<br />
Anyone who regularly visits my blog will already have seen and read all this but since <b>Amy's <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/10/26/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2012/">Blogger's Quilt Festival</a></b> is going on, I'm telling the story for new visitors as part of the festival.<br />
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<a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/?p=7495" title="Amy's Creative Side"><img alt="Amy's Creative Side" src="http://amyscreativeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Fall-2012-BQF-button-e1347251460705.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Category:</b> Throw Quilt</span></b></div>
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This is one of two largish quilts I made this summer. In fact they are my FIRST largish solo quilts EVER! I'm kind of new at this.<br />
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This quilt is for Uncle Reg (my mother-in-law's brother) who turned 90 this year. He's quite the inspiration with his good health, energy, humour, and attitude. He's had a really incredible life that has taken him from a modest Saskatchewan farm, through World War II as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force (remarkably surviving several crashes), family life with three daughters, and now grandchildren. He still golfs and curls and both cheers and curses the Roughriders (our professional football team). He's also famous for his gardening expertise, roses in particular.<br />
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I won 6 one yard cuts of this fabric. It's <a href="http://www.parsongray.com/#!fabrics/c1on4">Curious Nature designed by David Butler</a>. When the fabric arrived I liked it so much that I bought fat quarters of the complete line. It's very masculine fabric and, for whatever reason and before I even realized it was Uncle Reg's 90th birthday this year, the fabric reminded me immediately of him. So ... good reason to make the man a lap quilt. I picked out the blue/oyster/cream/black toned fabrics from the line for this quilt. I envisioned photos on the quilt so I undertook figuring that out. It turned out to be challenging and time-sucking but, ultimately, I'm very happy with how the photos printed onto fabric. What I learned about that process is a whole blog post on its own.<br />
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Auntie Eileen volunteered to embroider the strip with the words, poppies and roses. She has a fancy embroidering machine.<br />
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I had the quilt longarm quilted by <span class="st">Lynette Hankewich</span> of <b>Ladybug Longarm Quilting</b>. She just quilted in the ditch so as not to quilt over the photos. She did a great job considering "stitching in the ditch" is not so easy on a longarm quilting machine. Perhaps I could have quilted this by myself on my little Pfaff Tipmatic but I've never machine quilted before and I didn't want to start on this particular quilt.<br />
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I pieced the back of the quilt using what was left of the six 1 yard cuts that I won.<br />
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I used all the fabric scraps pieced together for the binding and I included a strip of red fabric with fleur de lis on it for a touch of red. I do like a touch of red. And this is Canada after all, so a nod to the French is always in order for we English Canadians.<br />
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The above photo (the one on the park bench) shows the colours in the quilt more realistically than in the other photos, which make the quilt look overall more "blueish" than it really is.<br />
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I was very lucky to have Sean stop by to hold the quilt up for me. Sean's Mom is a quilter, too. He and his brothers and his Dad are all closer to 7 feet tall so they are every quilter's "best friends". Prior to that I tried to take photos of it all by myself at various places at the University of Saskatchewan campus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLofDJQtjVOorQd5Ip2X8Vrm9HYeHoK5_S7qT1RMnMjZDmhPWT-OKKiM0RJWCMWRObVpOPe7ykwOr2XtlzEt1plJmAIrLSVsOArbST6IpzT5hmeMh1ODAvGy_v0Dvbtz5TMLhNq5Dh6fy/s1600/P1030388.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLofDJQtjVOorQd5Ip2X8Vrm9HYeHoK5_S7qT1RMnMjZDmhPWT-OKKiM0RJWCMWRObVpOPe7ykwOr2XtlzEt1plJmAIrLSVsOArbST6IpzT5hmeMh1ODAvGy_v0Dvbtz5TMLhNq5Dh6fy/s400/P1030388.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Quilt Stats:</span></b><br />
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</b> <b>Name:</b> "90 Squares of a Curious Nature"<br />
<b>Size</b>: 54" x 69"<br />
<b>Fabric:</b> Curious Nature by Parson Gray (David Butler), one charm square in the middle of the quilt that has various synonyms for "home" on it and is from Sweetwater's Hometown fabric line, and Kona Pepper for sashing and borders.<br />
<b>Inspiration Quilt:</b> <a href="http://craftingdotdotdot.blogspot.ca/2012/03/chrysalis-is-finally-finished.html">Chrysalis</a> by Heather D at the "Crafting ... Blog"<br />
<b>Longarm Quilting:</b> Lynnette of Ladybug Longarm Quilting in Saskatoon<br />
<b>Particulars: </b>The quilt has 90 squares representing 90 years. Photos were printed using an Epson laserjet printer and Epson ink and I used cotton inkjet sheets from <a href="http://electricquilt.com/online-shop/inkjet-fabric/">Electric Quilt Company</a> available at <a href="http://www.periwinkle.biz/index1.html">Periwinkle Quilt Shop</a> in Saskatoon and PeachTree Quilt Shop in Regina.<br />
<b>Best Category:</b> Throw Quilt<br />
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I didn't use a pattern but, after looking at the "inspiration quilt" and knowing charm packs were used to make it, I used 5 inch squares (a good choice because I could get two 5" square photos out of one cotton photo printer sheet), and 1.5 inch strips of Kona Pepper cut to 5" and 6" lengths. The squares have black borders on 2 sides only and then you just turn every 2nd square to get this jiggy look. If it hadn't been for struggles with my first attempt at printing on fabric, this would have been a very quick and easy quilt to put together. It's worth noting that if you decide to make a similar quilt, prepare all the fabric squares first and then lay the whole thing out and figure out where you're going to put your photo squares because that will determine where you put the two sashing pieces on those. You don't want to end up with upside down photos!<br />
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I like how Sean's sneakers peak out from under the quilt.<br />
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For the quilt label I used the corner of a handkerchief that features red roses since Uncle Reg is famous for his rose gardening.<br />
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The quilt was delivered and, with blessed happenstance, the quilt colours match Uncle Reg's decor perfectly! I'm so pleased about that.<br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVkCCG-SHEHE51uoDx-QRq53zkRgPAueaIkXC7mOi94PKzn8wUp2imPjM93SC8TtH2FtA4GWf7rG0gbocsI0Qiv24lU62k5YrzYKhFWgKnFl6y5rLDDkAx4OpvSHmck1ImSx63CZIcms4/s1600/Reg+Quilt+matches+sofa.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVkCCG-SHEHE51uoDx-QRq53zkRgPAueaIkXC7mOi94PKzn8wUp2imPjM93SC8TtH2FtA4GWf7rG0gbocsI0Qiv24lU62k5YrzYKhFWgKnFl6y5rLDDkAx4OpvSHmck1ImSx63CZIcms4/s400/Reg+Quilt+matches+sofa.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></b></i><br />
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Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238320248634043413.post-3325945134628012662012-10-02T20:16:00.000-06:002012-10-02T20:34:55.362-06:00Such a Good Salad RecipeI didn't get a photo of this salad so here's the photo from the recipe blog where I found it. Note that this doesn't look at all like the salad I made from this recipe, but that's okay. I think mine looked better and it was SO good. We had it 2 days in a row. The dressing was even better the second day. It had a little snap that I didn't notice the first day.<br />
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You can find the recipe at the blog, <a href="http://www.takingonmagazines.com/2012/07/tomato-stack-salad-with-corn-and.html">Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time</a>. This is one of my favourite recipe blogs. The "Mom Chef" makes recipes from magazines and reviews them. She comments on the process, gives recipes a verdict, including the impressions of her husband and daughter, and writes about what she would do differently next time, if anything. If a recipe is a dud, she says so.<br />
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Kevin and I love this salad recipe and really like the dressing. And it's all SO EASY! You can follow the link to the recipe if you're interested. I'll just tell you what I did differently.<br />
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General ingredients are sliced tomatoes (a great use for all those fresh garden tomatoes - the recipe calls for 2 kinds of tomatoes but we just used the ones from our garden), sliced avocado, grilled corn (which I'd never done before but was easy and worth it - it's so easy to cut it off the cob), some bacon (I used bacon bits I already had on hand). We used 1 cob for 4 servings.<br />
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The dressing is so quick and easy, too. Just some buttermilk, which I usually have on hand, a little bit of mayo, fresh garlic, cider vinegar, fresh chives (I used green onion instead), fresh basil (I used dried), and fresh ground pepper.<br />
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I did what "The Mom Chef" said she would do differently next time and I thought the salad looked very attractive. Instead of stacking, I just arranged the tomato and avocado slices on plates grinding some sea salt over all, I piled the corn in one place beside them, drizzled the dressing over all, topped with bits of bacon and then added some ground pepper.<br />
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SO GOOD!<br />
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We also enjoyed the <a href="http://www.takingonmagazines.com/2012/09/chicken-with-honey-beer-sauce-from.html">Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce</a> from the same website. Very quick and easy and I'm surprised at how much flavour there was in the sauce for so few ingredients. The only thing I would do differently next time with this recipe is cut up the chicken into smaller pieces, especially when not using organic chicken breasts. Non-organic chicken breasts aren't so thick (with what I imagine to be added hormones that our human bodies don't need to absorb).<br />
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I'll try this one again, too.Heather Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10225483666564626507noreply@blogger.com2