Merry Christmas

 With so many other things calling my attention, Christmas sort of crept up on me this year. My kids from Montreal arrived yesterday and suddenly it's Christmas Eve. A cookie bake with two three-year-olds and two one-year-olds playing in the back ground, set the pace for the festivities of the next few days.

The Cookie Bake.

 I even managed a solitary walk this afternoon.  So peaceful, sort of the calm before the storm.

Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Enough with the Moving and Unpacking!!!!

It's official, I'm taking a break from anything moving and unpacking related!!! And that's final!!!! As long as the main living spaces of the house are livable, I'm good for now. 

 As you can see....things are starting to shape up for now. Aren't those those the most amazing, adjustable stools I just "happened on" the other day!! It's incredible what one can find at Homesense. 

A new round table for the kitchen. 

 

 The living room is coming along as well....the old furniture went downstairs and off we went furniture shopping.

 Some new, modern type, french doors seem to give the place a little more updated feel.....eleven new doors later!!! 
Yikes, we are a little out of control, but trust me they were a really good deal that my husband "happened on". I'm not the only crazy shopper in this household.

 The upstairs furniture is working rather nicely downstairs.

As you can see, Christmas is just around the corner, so it's time to focus on that for now. 

I've been so busy this year I haven't had time to turn GRUMPY or WOBBLE this Christmas..... or maybe I'm just turning over a a new leaf. 

Plenty has been unpacked, but trust me there is still much to be done. I'm leaving it for January!!!!

I've missed the hum of my sewing machine these past months, but it's a great reminder of how much I love it.

Now that I've officially stopped unpacking, I might have a little more blogging time as well. 

Progress

A few hours ago I was a tad overwhelmed....now several hours later I'm seriously overwhelmed, but progress is being made!!!! 

Last week the unfinished part of my basement was finally dry walled and painted.....time to go shopping for shelving. 

 
Did I mention I'm a storage junkie??? After the shelves were up I was chaffing at the bit to start unpacking, but alas, the floor still needed painting.

Ah....the painting has begun!!!

 
 I love my golden coloured floor and even the quilting frame, for the
long arm is set up...so exciting!!!!

Now for the overwhelming part.....yikes, that's just some of the boxes!!!

 

 

Seriously....this could take a while. Unfortunately there won't be any quilting, until order is restored.....I'm really missing it. 

Creating Some Calm in the Storm

 

 Here's one last look, at the view, from my son's hospital window (rather a quilt worthy view, in my opinion). I'm happy to report he came home on Friday and is doing really well. We even managed a family outing to Ikea over the weekend....that alone should tell you how things are going, 

Thank you so much, for your kind word, thoughts and prayers....it means so much!! 

 Meanwhile we've been trying to create a little bit of calm in the midst of the chaos. After all one does need their computer!!

 And perhaps a sewing machine or two.....just perhaps.

Yup....there's the cutting table. Are you wondering what's up with all the plastic??

The basement has approximately 700 hundred square feet of unfinished space, besides the finished part. Unfortunately there are no windows in that area. So just what does a quilter do with a black hole of that magnitude??

Cut a door of course....and let the light from the patio doors shine in!!!!! We'll be putting in a french door.

Put up some drywall, add some lighting and electrical sockets, paint the floor.....and I will have more storage than I have ever had and a spot for the long arm.

 Of course this is rather a slow process and dusty to say the least.

Meanwhile, upstairs is becoming a little more orderly.

 

Slowly but surely things are coming together. 

I've even created a temporary closet until I can get around to ordering an Ikea system.

Lest you think things are under control.....remember this room, yup it is still piled high to the ceiling!!

Once again, thank you for all your wonderful comments and emails, I tried to answer as many as I could....a few might have slipped through the cracks.....your support as ever, means so much.

Marianne

Leech Therapy...the Beauty of the Leech

 I have always found leeches to particularly gruesome....NOT ANYMORE!!! 

My amazing son had an accident with a saw.....several severed fingers later, we find ourselves embracing the beauty of the leech. The leeches are placed on the reattached finger every two hours, in order to keep the blood flowing. 

My son took the picture on the left, taking note of the leech's beautiful colours, as it does it's job. Ever the science teacher, he is quite fascinated and ever the artist, I found him sketching leeches on his iPad, with his good hand. 

Watching our son in pain has been extremely difficult but we are so thankful it wasn't any worse and that it's not his primary hand.

Ever the quilter, I went looking for some quilty inspiration in the hospital, as he rested.

 

 

 

My son's strength and humor in this difficult situation is an inspiration to me.....I'm so privileged to be the mother of such an amazing young man. 

It's Been a Crazy Few Weeks

I'm finally coming up for air........ after moving and then teaching at my first retreat last weekend.  

Here are a few photo's from last Friday....packing up and ready to go. Do you see that lovely quilt bag on top of my pile?  

Julia Oakshott surprised me with the loveliest bag to help me transport some of my quilts to the retreat. Thank you so much, Julia....it makes me smile every time I look at it 

 Here's a close up

Later that day, setting up for the trunk show is right around the time my knees started shaking a little....okay a lot!!

The ladies were welcoming and gracious. Once I got started....I believe I made sense (here's hoping).  

This is the lovely cabin I stayed at for the weekend....thank you so much Cathie. 

 My spectacular  morning view before starting the workshop

Such beautiful surroundings 

Here are a few hardy quilters spray basting one of their projects.

I had an amazing time, with the women, at the Seba Beach Retreat. Before I share anymore photos, of their work, I need to take the time to get their names matched up to the photos. Their work was so fabulous, especially since sewing curves and improvisational quilting was new to the majority of the women in the group.

I returned home to major unpacking and some basement renovations will be starting next week.....yikes, the craziness isn't over yet.

With a little Help from my Friends

Okay.....with a lot of help from my friends!! My quilting buddies are the best!!  As I wait here for the new dishwasher to arrive, I thought I would catch up with you. 

As you can see we have been very busy around here.

This closet used to be loaded with fabric.....not anymore.

Now that just looks wrong....my long arm sitting there on the floor. My poor husband drew blood wrestling that frame out the door.

I still feel like I'm running around in circles but having my friends support me means everything!!