Leap Year - Double trouble

What’s it all about?
February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365.000 days.

In celebration of this extra day I am catching up on all of my planned but not posted blogs for February!

Well we have had some right weird weather this month!  First Mystical Frosts and then…

EARTHQUAKES in the UK ?!?!

The Scotsman reported on Feb. 27th: 
‘Significant’ earthquake hits UK
The largest tremor to strike the UK in more than 20 years took place in the early hours of this morning, causing damage to buildings and leaving at least one person injured.

The tremor hit at around 1am and was measured at 5.2 on the Richter scale.
Its epicentre was near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, but the effects of the quake were felt throughout the country.

Our town made National and International News!

The earthquake resulted in at least one injury. A young man from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, required hospital treatment after a chimney collapsed and fell into his bedroom.  It actually shattered his pelvis!

The Question of the Day:  Did you experience this morning’s earthquake?

So everyone today is talking about the earthquake that rocked our world and all I can say is “I slept right through it!” 

“I am NEVER asleep before 1am - I feel so cheated! 
I slept right through it! 

I’ve lived through tornados & hurricanes but I’ve never experienced an earthquake! I’m so bummed to have missed the experience.  But I am not alone, to the best of my knowledge even Felix slept through it… well, he certainly did not wake me up!   

If you have been affected by the Earthquake, blog in and tell me what I missed!

Oh yea, speaking of Felix and in the spirit of all this winter wonder, remember I mentioned in my EQ Challenge we were waiting for it to snow, well here is a candid shot of Felix the following morning enjoying the snow… If you look carefully you can see his paw print where he scooped up the snow to have a little taste!  It was the most Amazing thing I’ve ever seen…  A cat eating snow!

A Frosty Birthday Surprise!

On February 20th Mother Nature offered a beautiful surprise on my Birthday!  Here are just a few photos from around my area depicting the results of the Frost not snow!  I have never had the pleasure of seeing anything like this and it is such a beautiful sight!

This majestic frost is called Rime.  Until today I had never heard of these terms.  Here is how one weather forecast explained it.  “Where it did become foggy, rime formed as the fog droplets froze onto objects such as trees and fences. Rime is more spectacular than hoar frost as it denser and harder, and often creates beautiful icy structures on objects such as trees and fences.”

Frost can occur as dew forms through the night and starts to freeze, crystals start to grow and can give a very wintry scene as bushes, tree branches, cars and grass verges amongst other things will start to become coated by the fine crystals which then grow from surrounding moisture as the night goes on. By morning, it can appear to have snowed, even though the skies will have been clear all night. 

Riming, or deposition of ice, is very similar to hoar frost, but can occur when you have a moist layer near the ground, and appears very similar to hoar frost in that an ice crystals will build up. This forms from liquid which is supercooled to begin with, such as freezing fog.

Below is a close up of a seed pod from our garden which shows the ice crystals more clearly:

“After weeks of fair weather, winter has finally set in, with freezing fog lifting to reveal an icy landscape across much of northern England.” (Reported by the Daily Mail).

The rest are photos from our village.  It was such a beautiful sight and a wonderful surprise:

 

January 2008 Club EQ Challenge: Make It Seasonal!

Each month Electric Quilt Software sets a fun challenge and this month we were encouraged to design a quilt that reflects the current season where you live, or where you’re vacationing. You may use blocks or colors or any other design element to express your seasonal theme.

This is my designed quilt titled “Snowy Nights”

My notecard read: 

Tonight we are waiting for it to snow so I thought it apropriate to use a dark snowy theme! You probably think I am crazy because I love it when it snows!

A Texan Quilting in the UK!

All of you Jelly Roll Lovers, watch this space you might enjoy my next design!

I am in Love with my new Treadle Sewing Machine

Today I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely family who previously owned this beautiful machine!  I know you have been looking forward to seeing inside the cabinet so I will get right to it! Brace yourself… it’s in amazing condition!

Everything about this machine is Perfect!	I am still pinching myself and can hardly believe how fortunate I am that today I became the very proud owner of this beautiful Singer 66 Treadle sewing machine.   While this machine appears to be brand new and is certainly new to me, in reality it is hardly “new”!  Based on the Singer website and the serial number of my machine the allotted date for this machine was December 2, 1935.  It was 1 of 3000 made at the Kilbowe factory in Clydebank, Scotland.
I  am still not sure what the clamp/bracket next to the treadle (shown on the right in the picture above) is suppose to be used for? Oops, I better clarify - the one that is fixed to the cabinet, not the treadle irons.                     Any Guesses? Maybe it is to tie the belt around when its stored away?	It was fun getting acquainted with this machine and learning how to thread it.  A few false starts with some broken threads and lots of re-threading the needle due to the tension being way too tight, a few adjustments and although I have never treadled before in my life, I was off to a very good start.  I managed to sew a 42″ strip continuously up one side and then turned it around and sewed down the other side!  I was so proud of myself!
	Even Felix inspected and approved the new addition!  He definitely found his place and will no doubt be nearby whenever his new friend is out to play!

Later, my luck soon turned and other attempts were not quite as perfect as my first, somehow when I treadle it is turning backwards just as I try to get started, my timing must be off.   Its also very amusing to try and figure out how to stop so far it has been like trying to take a wild horse “whoa” followed by a crash landing.  I will need to work out how the brakes work on it!  :~) One thing is for sure, I have mastered how to rethread the needle!  I will most certainly keep practicing and learn a rhythm and eventually learn how to brake and control the speed.  The machine sews amazingly quiet and smooth. I love the soft ticking sound it makes.

This is definitely going to be the start of a very long and wonderful relationship!

p.s. Happy Birthday Dad!  I love you and hope you and mom are enjoying your weekend away!  I look forward to hearing if you bought that new car you had your eye on and to hear about the rest of your weekend!

Step 1 & 2 of my Carolina Crossroad Mystery Completed!

In a previous post I shared with you about one of my new quilt projects which is a Mystery Quilt - Carolina Crossroads that Bonnie at Quiltville has designed and is sharing with over 1,000 other really lovely quilters who are also sharing in this mystery.  It has been so much fun! 

Here is a photo of my completed blocks for step 1 & 2.  I am half way through with step 3 and will send a photo soon!   

I have been very naughty and have been cheating and looking ahead at some of the steps, my excuse is I want to be sure I have enough fabric… but really the curiosity is killing me!  :)  Plus I like working on a variety of different blocks, especially when they are in 100 sets!  It has also been really nice to be able to cut up a variety of different strips and colour combinations. 

I have made a resolution that I will NOT read past step 5 until all of my blocks are completed.  Step 5 completes the blocks and then we start piecing it all together!  I am looking forward to seeing what we are going to do with all these lovely blocks!

Meet My Purrrfect Friend

This is Felix, he is my very affectionate soft adorable friend…

 

Life just would not be the same without him!

 

An added bonus is the fact that my little friend is an excellent Quilt Critic!

 

He makes sure he is always in the middle of the act at every stage of the project from start to finish!

When necessary he is always happy to Test for Warmth and Comfort! 

I Love My Little Felix
He also helps make my quilts Purrr*fect!

Hello 2008!

2008 is off to a really exciting start for me!  I’m not sure how it all happened to be honest but one thing led to another and I am soon to be the proud owner of a Singer 66 Treadle Machine!  I’m still amazed how this has all come about!  It is a really interesting story actually - let me tell you about it…

A discussion was started on the BQL group I belong to which asked ”If money was no object which machine would you buy”  My response was “For me it would be a Bernina with ALL the bells & whistles! (i.e. stich regulator, special feet, extra accessories, etc.) And if money really was no object I’d get the software too!” the conversation continued with discussions of older machines and i added “I seem to be admiring different machines more and more lately and would love to own one of those treddle machines (if that’s what their called)  Those really old Singer ones! I think there is another name for them as well…”  my comment was a bit nieve because what I was thinking about was the featherweights…  anyway, a few days later I received an invitation from another member of the group, who contacted me privately, and told me about this treadle machine that was in good working order that she hardly uses that she would be willing to sell.  Our conversation continued and she sent me some photos and I fell in love the moment I saw it!  Bare-in-mind, I know nothing about this machine!!!  LOL!  I proceed to ask really stupid questions, for example I was not even aware that it is a “man>powered” machine, silly me is thinking the foot petal thing is optional!  Surely all sewing machines run on power!  :~)  Don’t they?  Oh boy was I in for a surprise! 

Well to make a long story a little bit shorter, this must be destiny because there is no doubt in my mind that this machine has chose me rather then I choosing it!  It has been an interesting journey so far and I am really really really excited about this sewing machine!  I have done my homework and quite a bit of research.  I found a great website with a email group called TreadleOn which I will no doubt be joining very soon!  I also want to thank some of my new ”treadle friends” who have been so helpful and encouraging from my Quiltville group! 

Here is a sneek preview of the machine I plan to buy on Saturday… 

To be opened with more photos to follow when it relocated and settled into its new home! *MINE!  I can hardly wait!!!  

p.s.  To my friends also making the Carolina Crossroads Mystery Quilt… I hope to have photos to share of my blocks very soon!  My camera is being sent for repairs and I’ve not installed all the software for photo editing so the process is going slow.  Maybe tomorrow…

Goodbye to 2007

Well it is time to say Good-bye to 2007!  It’s been a year of changes for sure!  I am ready to move ahead and see what 2008 has in store!

Wishing all my friends new and old a very Happy & Prosperous New Year!

Cheers!
Michelle

It’s Arrived!!!

Sorry for the long delay…  my laptop has gone belly up but Santa’s Elves kindly made an early Christmas delivery!

Here is just a little peek at my NEW!  Dell Inspirion 1721 - 17″ laptop! I have spent all day installing software and getting acquainted with Vista Home Professional!  So far no major complaints.  I think I will definitely enjoy the upgrade!

Sadly I am not able to upload my own photos as planned of the new laptop and our Christmas tree & decorations…  looks like the camera has packed it in also!  I am really upset because I love my Canon Powershots S1 it is a fantastic camera and was a lovely gift from my dad a few Christmas’ ago…  fingers crossed I will be able to get it fixed! 

Three more days of school and whooo hooo  it’ll be time to celebrate Christmas!

Group Activities!

My world wide web quilting adventures has been broadened this week!

I have been very busy with Group activity recently!  Additionally, I have decided to join two new groups which I am also really excited about!

In my current BQL group I have decided to join in with the 2008 Bag Challenge!

The reason I decided to take part in this challenge is pretty straight forward!  I want to do my part!  :)  The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags each year, which averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet.  It was suggested that if we make just four bags this year and use them every week, we alone will have saved over 200 plastic bags from being needed every year.  Great Idea yea?!?  I am really hoping to keep up with this challenge and make a bag a month!  It is really great and I think Kandy from BQL for coming up with this wonderful challenge for us all!  If you would like more information or to join the British Quilt List we can be found on Yahoo groups or click here

I have not made many bags before and when I began searching for inspiration I stumbled on another Yahoo Group called “A Girl Can Never Have Too Many Handbags” the title alone drew me in to join but o’boy did I hit pay dirt!  There some very talented women in this group that make some very beautiful bags!  Not just sewn or quilted, but knitted as well!  This seems like a friendly group and I hope I wont ask too many silly/stupid questions because I am really new to this kind of sewing and have no idea but I do well sometimes at following directions LOL!  I have lots of patterns purchased as well as from magazines that I hope to make but often feel a bit intimidated by them and those projects get pushed further to the bottom of the pile.  Hopefully this group will help encourage me to make a few more bags!  So far I have only managed to make one bag!  This bag was a kit from my local quilt shop (Hannah’s Room) which my neighbor/friend had purchased {*yes, this is the same neighbor who got me started in sewing/quilting}  She decided it was too complicated to make this bag and gave the kit to me.  I loved the colours and the method was very unusual and required some concentration to follow.  As a surprise, I made the bag and gave it back to my friend.  One day I hope to make another one for me!  :)  Here is a peek at the bag I made including the front, back & quilting for this bag:

  

It is Time for a Mystery Quilt!

I have been a secret admirer of Bonnie at Quiltville for some time.  Her wesbsite is amazing, full of so much inspiration!  I am always drawn back to her website time and time again sometime intentionally and other times accidently when web surfing. I simply love scrap quilts and I believe Bonnie is the Queen of Scrappy Quilts! I am so excited to have found your blog spot as well!  I have only just entered the world of blogging and let me say it is an adventure figuring all this out!  LOL!  But in following Bonnie’s blog I have decided to try and use up my scraps and participate in Bonnie’s Mystery Quilt!  It should be so much fun!  I’ve never done anything like this, but I trust in Bonnie and know whatever this mystery is it will be a beauty! 

My very first completed quilt was a scrap quilt and it is very special quilt to me for many different reasons because it was my “first” on so many levels.  The word “First” seems to echo with this quilt!  Let me explain… it is the first quilt I have ever made and completed (other quilted projects were placemats & table runners and lots of sewn blocks and even a completed quilt tops), this was also my first scrap quilt.  I have made two of these quilts.  I made the second one for my stepdaughter’s son which is my husbands first grandchild and mine by proxy, I suppose.  I was more adventurous with my quilting for this project and in the center I used free motion quilting, which was yet another first for me!  This is the first quilt I have ever entered into a show which as it happens was the very first ‘official’ quilt show to ever attend! The list of first just goes on & on…

I have dedicated this very special quilt in loving memory to my precious son Cory. This is my quilt label, if your interested, (to get a closer look click on the image.  This quilt was in Scotland last years at the Loch Lomond Quilt show!  Oh what fond memories!  The whole experience was very special for me! 

Here is a look at my Barn Raising Bears quilt with close ups of the applique bear & quilting!  This was my first attempt at Free Motion Quilting!  I loved it!  Now can you see why this quilt is so special to me?!?

   

I do not know if I will have enough “scraps” for the mystery quilt, I am sure I will have to dip into my stash once I am able to make up my mind what color choices I want to use! 

For more information about the Mystery Quilt:  Carolina Crossroads, visit Bonnie’s Blog!

I really look forward to sharing with others and making new friends in the groups!  Rumour has it the group is putting together a Blog ring, I’m not too sure what that means but I am sure someone with more experience with this blogging stuff can show me how to get involved! 

If your visiting my blog for the first time I’d love to hear from you why not get in touch!