REVENANT RETURNS

Hello Everyone, have you been wondering where I have been these last many days?  I have been hunting or haunting for a new roof under which to hang my hat, gee why wasn't I called Casper?  That being able to flit here and there invisibly would be absolutely wonderful, no gas just ghostly travel!  LOL
Also since time is marching on I have been giving lots of attention to finishing this quilt.  Need to go to the Hall for more table space as my little sewing corner simply isn't cutting it...but it is just so darned hot and humid and we live here near the water with a temperature already of 32 degrees Celsius or 89.6 Fahrenheit which is in and of itself not really too bad but with it comes the humidity and makes a person all sweaty  especially being in a place without air conditioning!  Boy am I spoiled or what?
A new friend who is very talented has had one of her photo's chosen for a new book being published called "Our Canada"!  This is that picture!  Isn't it wonderful? 

Also this picture which was taken at the War of 1812 Re-enactment in our region.

This scene is just so wonderfully serene, even though away back in 1812 life must have been much more tenuous?  
I am sharing these with Emma's permission, and I thank you Emma for this privilege.  Maybe one of these fine days Emma will publish some of her fantastic photos for everyone to enjoy!
This is one I adore for the balance and color.  Thank you Emma!

Parcels to the rest of the Giveaway winners have all been sent so please, when they arrive at your mail box, please let me know here at the Bag Lady so I may stop worrying about them!   I hope each and everyone who received a giveaway parcel enjoyed the contents?  I will be hosting another Giveaway soon, so keep checking back. 
Seeing as it is almost officially Summer, I want to wish Spring a happy retreat and because it is my most favorite time of the year, I cannot wait for its return.  Isn't it awfully hot and humid these days?  Possibly if we all think of sending those terrible storms and weird weather away they might disappear?  You think?
Time for me to sign off for today and get on with it, this quilt will not finish itself.  LOL  Once it is finally finished I will share it with you.  I am convinced it turned out pretty darned nice.
Your comments are really appreciated when you leave them, so please do and if you have something wonderful you wish to share, that too would be appreciated.  So, please feel free to leave your comments to share with all of us.  Especially about what it is your projects are that your working on.   


Isn't this a great quote????


Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon.  A happiness weapon.  A beauty bomb.  And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one.  It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air.  Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas.  And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight.  Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in.  With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest.  And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination.  ~Robert Fulghum

Nellie Overshadowed by Lions for a Good Cause

Nellie has worked hard for the past several weeks, at rest only when at days end when the rotary cutter with rulers pushed aside,  her power was shut off and the Ott light doused.  This morning like every other morning Nellie would have been fired up, hum happily while threading her way along to the end of the seam and hardly ever forgotten left along and unused, but she was left quite alone today because the Lions took precedence.

Sew, no humming today, our Brockville Lions club was having a Japan Relief breakfast today.   
Setting aside my block construction of Mr. Bentley's quilt as well as some other WIP I gave Nellie a sorry look donned my uniform and set off to work for the people of Sendai Japan.
If your at all interested the International Lions Clubs roll is within the World community, here is a link to one such busy club in Ireland, the Bantry-Bay Lions Club.  This is a wonderful and concise site and explanation of the work Lions are doing for the world community and its current projects.  
If you should possibly be interested in the work carried out by Lions International and its clubs throughout the world and in your community, there is a way you can help people in the worlds' communities, choose one that strikes a chord with your interests or likes and follow or even, join up, it is such a worthwhile organization with hundreds of thousands of interesting people and a myriad of diverse interests and hobbies with one common denominator, Service.  

This is the Logo of Lions Clubs recognizable  anywhere in the world.

 The members of Lions Clubs anywhere in the world are ready and willing to help in any way possible.
My favorite part of Lions is my time working on my pet project, Guide Dogs Canada, that trains dogs to work for those who are blind or visually impaired, and expanded training of dogs as service companions to tho with hearing and other medical or physical disabilities.      
Puppies in the Foster Puppy Program
Before I shut down and make my bed inspection, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Visitors from around the world who came by for a visit, I so appreciate your interest and do hope you will call by again and again.  Have a great day everyone no matter where in the world you are.

My Junket With Very Interesting Quilters

After all the enjoyment I had on my dateless Saturday evening spent visiting with so many wonderful quilters at their blogs last night, I couldn't resist quickly going back and discovering more interest and informative blogs.  On my Sunday sojourn, I followed someone's favorite blog and discovered FRECKLED BEAUTIES.  What Kerry displayed there was so intriguing I just have to share it with you.  What she blogged about at the time of my visit were Earths Berries Soap Nuts - I grabbed a picture from her blog to show you what these look like.  You won't believe what these nuts can do, and the only way to find out id for you to go to Kerry's blog and read all about it while your there.  She has a very, very interesting blog and so very worth your time to make a visit.

 - not this all sounds quirky but wow am I impressed and I just have to order some.  Anything natural and that works and is good for our environment is a worthwhile addition to my daily living tools.  If this natural substance is as good for vegetables or body washing, then, obviously it should also be great for washing fabric as well as our quilts.  Do yourself a HUGE service and check it all out on her blog, her review of this product is concise and to the point, no fripperies here, just honestly put. She has actually tested it and as she is a registered nurse and soon to be mother I believe every word she wrote. ....

Finally I decided to leave the computer and all of the new blogs I visited and found my new book "Figures In Silk" by Vanora Bennett and got lost in the year 1471 and Edward IV.  So far the book is well written and has my total attention.  If your at all interested in historical novels, pay her a visit and learn all about her other novels.  I am certain this author will provide you with a great read.

Which Authors entertain or inspire you to read?

My Quilt, A MARITIMERS' DREAM

Frost Fest is over and from all verbal accounts from many different sources, it was another success story.  If your interested, why not visit the Frost Fest web site and take a gander at the gallery of pictures there of the numerous people and events taken over the course of the entire weekend.  Needless to say the final outcome will be determined once all of the financials are dealt with. 

Now that the Frost Fest is behind me, another project remains to be completed, that being the sale of tickets on my quilt donated as a fundraiser for my local Lions Club charity, GUIDE DOGS CANADA.  All proceeds raised from the sale of these raffle tickets will go directly to Guide Dogs Canada without one penny being diverted for any other cause. 


My online quilt group wanted to do a round robin quilt project and this is how my quilt took life and the journey of this actual quilt began.

In its beginning I had no idea as to how I would display something I was thinking of visually. While living in a province on the east coast of Canada, I wanted to tell people a story in cloth that would describe this womans' love of the region as well as her passion for quilting, and how in my minds eye my  surroundings might look from the inside out! 

This quilt began to live as each individual worked on the rounds and began to assert my description of my story and what the importance of sight meant to me.   Never, could I have imagined how beautiful this vision would become when set out in fabrics.  The world of textiles and its fabric designers provide quilters with endless possibilities of colour and themed patterned prints and especially with this quilt seemed somehow perfect to be sewn together allowing this persons' inner dreaming become a visual reality. 

I would like to describe for you on how the quilt took shape, beginning with the center and working my way outwards to its border.  A huge debt of gratitude go to Mary G., Kim L., Kris B., and Linda B. without them, their skills, expertise and immagination it would never have turned out so well.  

So here pictorially is the tale of A Maritimers Dream. 

This is the center block, its beginning.  From the window against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds this dreamer looks out across to her neighbour who has a quilt being aired on the fence top. 

  Not only can the neighbours house be seen from the window, but, also the gardens that surround this dreamers' home.  Here in bright vivid colour are flowers in the border surrounding the house.  From there we see the picket fence which depicts a season, one season for each of the four sides which surround the house.  We have spring,  then summer makes its appearance with lush flowers all in their prime after which comes the fall and all its brilliant maple leaf colourations so very rich and vibrant in the advent of the winter to come which is set with white snow, animals and birds that frequent gardens in rural areas.  

Thanks to the designers for the rabbits,

the racoons and nut hatches

and the cardinals in this snowy winter themed fabric.  The last part of the fenced in portion shows of the wonderful red cardinals and other birds of winter. 



  

Then beyond the neighbours property is the forest where trees of all varities grow tall and strong, wild flowers manage to grown amidst the firs, evergreens, maples, ash, elm, oak, and birch with trails worn over time where people make their way towards the sand dunes and the beach. 

Finally the sand dunes make their presence felt, strong and in abundance and waving freely in the winds which drift along the sandy shoreline and into the Bay of Fundy.

This then is my visionary memory of a place somewhere on the shore of the Bay of Fundy where beauty prevails among the rough.

Not the best shot because I simply do not have space enough to properly hang the quilt.  It finished at 67" X 67" square.

IF YOU SEE A MEMBER OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL presiding over a fundraising event, please consider that all monies raised will directly benefit an organization that deal with those who suffer from some form of vision impairment or the total loss of vision.   In addition to those organizations which benefit from the works of those members world wide, disasters such as that which has hit Haiti also benefit, and if you are so inclined, no matter the amount be it pocket change or larger, these donations you give help each and every member of Lions International Clubs to serve those who are in need.

Thank you for visiting.  Again, if your reading this then like me you and I are above ground today and that is a blessing, so have a truly FRIENDTASTIC day.

After Ground Hog Day!

I remember yesterday telling you all about the birth of my Great Nephew and promising to send pictures, well, here he is.


May I introduce you to my Great Nephew, CARTER born on February 1st, 2010. Here is the first official picture taken while being held by his Dad and Carter must be tired because he was sound asleep, only an hour after his arrival. I cannot wait to see him awake, what the colour of his eyes will be and his hair, which is nicely covered in this picture.

As promised, I also took pictures for you of the finished Pouch bags  made for the Life Sized Penguins of Seeley's Bay for Frost Fest Weekend.  Here they are, probably not the greatest but these are what I ended up making and these will be handy for many years of service.  These are 100% washable so they should hold up well.


The Penguins needed pouches this year - these life sized Penguins of Seeley's Bay wander around Town all weekend and hand out Penguin Pops (choclate suckers) to all of the children they see. They also have with them brochures with all of the listed events and activities happening during Drost Fest as well as a map and directions on where these locations are. SO this pouch is 10" by 12" and has a pocket in the front under the penguin fabric to facilitate the carrying of the brochures. and a plain solid inside to carry all of those delicious penguin pops.
This Penguin Pouch is a tad different, it has pockets on its interior and is 13 1/2" in height by a width of 12".
This is the inside of the black/white Penguin pouch it has lots of room for those Penguin Pops and two inner pockets to carry brochures. I hope these will be useful and the Committee likes them.

A Little About This and A Little About That

Two days into the new blogging regime and already I am slipping up.  Somehow though  Sunday managed to slip past me without time to accomplish too much.

I picked up a nail or something rather sharp and discovered a flat tire while out doing the weeks shopping for groceries on Saturday evening.  I arranged to have the tire changed and will get it into the garage to have it repaired sometime this week. My doorbell just kept ringing and people were coming and going all afternoon, even after dinner there was no let up and so it went until bed time.  

I have been trying to work the kinks out of the Scavenger Hunt I am planning to hold at our community Frost Fest.  It being a first time event, I would really like to see it become an annual event.  It really isn't easy to plan a scavenger hunt is it?  That old movie "My Man Godfrey" with Carole Lombard and William Powell back in 1936"  made it all seem so very easy and alot of fun.  I love old balck and white movies, don't you?

Todays' scavenger hunts must be a bit more sophisticated though because we just don't behave like they do in movies and those days of the 30's no longer exist now do they?
So I have stolen some ideas from others who have graciously put their methods on the internet for others to make use of and will be hiding frozen coloured muffins with pennies inside.  To find the muffin and collect the penny they must solve a riddle or a clue, allowing for the entire team to participate in the whole game.  I really am hoping this will be successful and a great deal of fun for all who will venture to play along.

Not only am I responsible for the Scavenger Hunt for Seeley's Bay 15th Annual Frost Fest,   but I am also a member of the Lions Club here in the Bay, I finished my Round Robin Quilt and pledged it as the First Prize in this years Seeley's Bay Lions Club Fund Raiser events.  All money derived from the sale of tickets on the quilt will go to benefit Guide Dogs Canada.  A very worthwhile charity for Lions, as Guide Dogs are much in demand for those without sight.   The picture I took isn't terrific but it will give you an idea of what it looks like.  It measures 64.5" X 64.5" Square. 

This Round Robin quilt left here with my concept of what I saw from my window where I lived on the east coast of Canada and what it is that I saw from that window.  All of the women in my Round Robin group went along with the idea I presented them with and this is the result.

At the quilts center is my immaginary neighbours house across the road. Obviously it is a work day because my neighbours' quilts/blankets,  as Maritimers are want to name them are hanging out being aired before putting them back on the beds.
From my window I can see the garden in all of the four seasons of the year.   The garden extends into the forest beyond and from that forest the trail leads you to the sand dunes which extend themselves out into the Bay of Fundy. 

It is my hope that many others will like this unique quilt enough to buy lot of tickets so that this year we may present Guide Dogs with more money to train new puppies who will grow up to become Super Guide Dogs for those who are in need of these wonderful animals, who give of themselves 24/7 with total adoration and service.  What more could I ask of this quilt to give but its warmth and my immagination and a Guide Dog?

The Four Seasons