tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73816524201038183442024-03-05T09:23:28.975-04:00Quilting with JanetQuilting with Janet is a blog chronicling the day to day life of a quiltmaker and features other aspects of her life in a Nova Scotian rural coastal community too.Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-37877501731047214262011-09-28T13:39:00.000-03:002011-09-28T13:39:24.483-03:00Quilt Show and Sale over for another year!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqFJwU99v_o_a5Tyg7cKxFrbb2Umn8ERkBPXGWy0-EpLqM4NxDJmIc9TiBudYyID_Nnczkn9WCXSsP36xOCBhA-jLvgFksziv3pAThYRMLsO1rBsiv3mtRQ9b08Wr0-x3p1yD5aidU_NF/s1600/quilt+show+2011+004+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqFJwU99v_o_a5Tyg7cKxFrbb2Umn8ERkBPXGWy0-EpLqM4NxDJmIc9TiBudYyID_Nnczkn9WCXSsP36xOCBhA-jLvgFksziv3pAThYRMLsO1rBsiv3mtRQ9b08Wr0-x3p1yD5aidU_NF/s320/quilt+show+2011+004+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>We held our 13th Annual Quilts at the Harbour Show and Sale this past weekend and made over $700 for the support of the lovely small church in our community. In these days of disappearing rural community infrastructure it is good to see an active vibrant small church surviving. So many other features of the rural community have gone - gas pumps, stores, and one room school houses. But the community of Hall's Harbour continues to support an active fishery, an up-to-date fire protection service, and a Historical Society and <a href="mailto:C@psite">C@psite</a> . We rely heavily on volunteers and so many residents work hard to keep the community active and growing.</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscm7KGbu5dRK-KhJS9_MMyHhpQKCq1BB8Ja1wi66jHwV5FTcpWO0OaQGi5cTpYj3ylpK82qmeDEJNFijGgDIfpS26EjJNJuYGPEKfgROJP7gaq19yoPcDA3ttzpiXO_Qf7WMA0nEF9BnF/s1600/quilt+show+2011+001+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscm7KGbu5dRK-KhJS9_MMyHhpQKCq1BB8Ja1wi66jHwV5FTcpWO0OaQGi5cTpYj3ylpK82qmeDEJNFijGgDIfpS26EjJNJuYGPEKfgROJP7gaq19yoPcDA3ttzpiXO_Qf7WMA0nEF9BnF/s320/quilt+show+2011+001+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><strong>It was so nice to have an opportunity to visit and network with so many friends, new and old! Often our lives are busy and we don't have the chance to slow down and share, but this event gives us a nice opportunity to do so. It was good too, to see what everyone is doing and to get fresh quilting ideas from each other!</strong><br />
<strong>One of my goals was to move out a pile of quilting magazines and quilt-related bits and pieces and it was good to see so much of it got to new homes - more downsizing and de-stashing will be in the works this winter.</strong><br />
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<strong>And talking about winter, I think we may have had frost last night - very soon we will be starting the lugging of firewood and the countdown to Christmas! </strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6PYa0uHfEkO_VSTIaksy-g9p5RPw6LXaSAGG7dfyWr-HI_abyXjso9uhz28DilyuFSuDdO3kbO387boAeeNlk1hQXzrwuVrWa7BUGrazwMZEnPrW1CwIrCyaUM4Z_RR1mr7BvO4aN74w/s1600/christmas+wreath+on+door+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6PYa0uHfEkO_VSTIaksy-g9p5RPw6LXaSAGG7dfyWr-HI_abyXjso9uhz28DilyuFSuDdO3kbO387boAeeNlk1hQXzrwuVrWa7BUGrazwMZEnPrW1CwIrCyaUM4Z_RR1mr7BvO4aN74w/s320/christmas+wreath+on+door+resized.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>I'm planning to be ready a little earlier this year - are you? I must get my fresh listings ready for FunkyBabyMine and A Coastal Christmas sites - keep an eye on them as I hope to make some progress there this week. </strong><br />
<strong>And if like me, you love the classic old quilt kits, both applique and cross stitch (wholecloth too!) you must check out <a href="http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/">http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/</a> - these lovely kits have become harder and harder to source and my inventory is extensive as we go into winter! Enjoy! And remember I also have gift certificates for those hard-to-buy-for ladies on your list.</strong><br />
<strong>Until next post, big hugs to everyone and apologies for not posting this summer. I must try to do better this fall.</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-38159137867192714382011-06-05T15:19:00.000-03:002011-06-05T15:19:35.655-03:00UPCOMING QUILT SHOW: Quilts at the Harbour 13th Annual Show and Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>QUILTS AT THE HARBOUR 13th ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>September will be here before we know it, and today I was revising my publicity documents for our 13th annual Quilts at the Harbour Show and Sale, and getting ready to print and distribute them. I thought it would be a nice idea to give you all an early heads up about the show, and some details:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">QUILTS AT THE HARBOUR</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">13th ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">September 24 (Saturday) from 10AM until 4PM</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">and </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">September 25 (Sunday) from 12 Noon until 4PM</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">at</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hall's Harbour United Baptist Church</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">885 W Hall's Harbour Road at Sullivan Road</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">(go through the harbour and climb the hill past the Lobster Pound. Stay on the paved road. The church will be on your right, facing the sideroad in about a kilometre or half a mile)</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">AMPLE PARKING and WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY access.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Admission is by freewill offering and free refreshments will be available</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">There will be many quilts and quilted items for sale, as well as those that are on display only. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">For avid quilters, the "Gently Used" table is always a very tempting delight</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">And of course we will have the traditional B AKESALE to go with the show!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo1ZTfZF_eM85ivLJovH8U3yyQZCYyO6E3bft94saPbaPzBl5RqT7cokP8RnZMZ0ekl9WI3mgQfnlYT71zR3ONi-eWTxNzVtXSCQ5NQV3Y7Ba4AAK7MEPBqB4GwCiK9ag3bJ9Hvw_CXiJ/s1600/quilts+at+the+harbour+resized-quilt-show-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo1ZTfZF_eM85ivLJovH8U3yyQZCYyO6E3bft94saPbaPzBl5RqT7cokP8RnZMZ0ekl9WI3mgQfnlYT71zR3ONi-eWTxNzVtXSCQ5NQV3Y7Ba4AAK7MEPBqB4GwCiK9ag3bJ9Hvw_CXiJ/s1600/quilts+at+the+harbour+resized-quilt-show-.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The church itself is a beautiful vintage 1840's structure with a cemetery that fascinates geneologists. Most of the original church furniture is intact and cherished. Ask to see the antique collection box on a pole - any of us will be happy to show it; and Richard, who is a deacon of the church, an historian and last but not least the proprietor of the bake table, can give you many details including lots of leads if you are researching family connections.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLKB1k7JbrBy_Gz3w982sxkMu-nckBXkR0WZ3jEHMxczidF9o8hxoSsRugWP_B_Rjnq8_jGL5qDpvH-o9WJHILW6tvkvZz4GpQcLCvNnKft4UYXsV1dPCa1U-kAVZnsVYoLBpjqHLTFZ-/s1600/quilts+at+the+harbour+-+church-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLKB1k7JbrBy_Gz3w982sxkMu-nckBXkR0WZ3jEHMxczidF9o8hxoSsRugWP_B_Rjnq8_jGL5qDpvH-o9WJHILW6tvkvZz4GpQcLCvNnKft4UYXsV1dPCa1U-kAVZnsVYoLBpjqHLTFZ-/s1600/quilts+at+the+harbour+-+church-300x225.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Here's a picture of the outside of the church so you know what you are looking for - we will also have a banner and a sign out.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">If you wish to enter quilts in the show, come by the church on Friday evening between 5:30 and 7PM and we'll take your entries - specify if the items are for sale or just on display - all quilters are very welcome to show - you don't have to be from Hall's Harbour. Bring two copies of your list and leave one with us so there are no errors at pickup time, which is around 4 on Sunday. Again if that time is not good for you we can work something out in advance.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">If the Friday evening drop off time is inconvenient, just email me: <a href="mailto:janet@novascotiaquilts.com">janet@novascotiaquilts.com</a> and we can arrange something outside those hours.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">IF YOU JUST WANT TO BROWSE SOME LOVELY QUILTS, then we welcome you - you're in for a treat and this year I expect some older, vintage quilts and bedlinens for sale as well. Bus tours are welcome - not long ago we had folks on a bus tour from Newfoundland!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">There are always lots of other local activities going on, fine dining is still available and the weather is usually very stable - fall colours will be lovely too! </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-26163707733607390352011-05-10T13:51:00.000-03:002011-05-10T13:51:15.941-03:00I am selling my collection of vintage and antique quilts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hi everyone! Greetings from cold and soggy Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia. I'm still plugging away on various quilt commissions plus the small quilt of next to nothing expense. There aren't enough hours in a day!!!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I have nothing to show you for now from the various projects, but I think I can knock your eye out anyway with what I show you today!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RG4_0Jsyo-i_zk3s1eHJOOZQ9f0Jo-AZ-cep7WtcZn-GIIc2yUM592Y0gAX_1Ez1E7rFE0brCDmxYwNKVl8rPm_HpRESIEuDIBy9Nu6Zohldsrzb-C8bSyLx9TFuIM6kgMdNWTW1ZN_7/s1600/pending+-+antique+flying+geese+det+5+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RG4_0Jsyo-i_zk3s1eHJOOZQ9f0Jo-AZ-cep7WtcZn-GIIc2yUM592Y0gAX_1Ez1E7rFE0brCDmxYwNKVl8rPm_HpRESIEuDIBy9Nu6Zohldsrzb-C8bSyLx9TFuIM6kgMdNWTW1ZN_7/s320/pending+-+antique+flying+geese+det+5+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So for this nasty, bleak day I'm going to show you some highlights from my vintage and antique collection of quilts. I have decided to liquidate these lovelies through <a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a> and will be gradually listing them over the next few months along with some vintage bedlinens to enhance them.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Above is a sweet indigo flying geese quilt with doublepink setting squares - a very traditional choice of colurs and prints for this period. Gotta love it!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaXhQp6QtMuG_5LhfxAURcrXUIidW3cAWIhRzQoydFRVaO-yQbOJpC4UyGzEqhjA-6cvzByosvyomvbKHMEMrEaU-WA4sWUrOh8Nj41LuuyVq4V5N9xmmBz3zljC5r75uPsAoeLTkJIAt/s1600/pending+-+basket+of+flowers+from+kit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaXhQp6QtMuG_5LhfxAURcrXUIidW3cAWIhRzQoydFRVaO-yQbOJpC4UyGzEqhjA-6cvzByosvyomvbKHMEMrEaU-WA4sWUrOh8Nj41LuuyVq4V5N9xmmBz3zljC5r75uPsAoeLTkJIAt/s320/pending+-+basket+of+flowers+from+kit+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reflecting my love of applique and of blue is this beautiful quilt, quite probably made from a kit, but I haven't yet found proof for this yet! Will keep looking though.</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYWcHjWTaTOv3Pi6tKChZC16w0su9di9ft4vxH0OliBhiTxK6Z8Dc_DVavbTafIIuqZ0gU_AI1oCeg5OwFp1vttvbT4C7ETlPehWf8_EaTp7yuNe6bGZxqCDb-ji6LrxbcDZUfw4EXltW/s1600/pending+-+finished+quilt+living+rose+det2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYWcHjWTaTOv3Pi6tKChZC16w0su9di9ft4vxH0OliBhiTxK6Z8Dc_DVavbTafIIuqZ0gU_AI1oCeg5OwFp1vttvbT4C7ETlPehWf8_EaTp7yuNe6bGZxqCDb-ji6LrxbcDZUfw4EXltW/s320/pending+-+finished+quilt+living+rose+det2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the vintage 1950's 1960's "The Living Rose" kit made up with great skill.</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPZoHYV3U-spPOHjTjfgDHPNOFFlOP5pZ31az3DNTLkCxZVkqOxb7WloBKfkMpAhsNHTXrA4QNpcrY-8S7lRJH8xJIkfBjAMEH5Lkha_HSwMIeS5uB6EJbFlT8uKkJxf72MdkvMqWBReh/s1600/pending+-+floral+bouquet+quilt+from+kit+-+blue+ribbons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPZoHYV3U-spPOHjTjfgDHPNOFFlOP5pZ31az3DNTLkCxZVkqOxb7WloBKfkMpAhsNHTXrA4QNpcrY-8S7lRJH8xJIkfBjAMEH5Lkha_HSwMIeS5uB6EJbFlT8uKkJxf72MdkvMqWBReh/s320/pending+-+floral+bouquet+quilt+from+kit+-+blue+ribbons.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Definitely a quilt made up from a kit - now if I can just find out which one!!</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY52MZnobUdB7ZFkwQChMUsoncJGQ4j4y1-pAH0DInpwphyHypiLfc2-dSsrXUl5N1H80HNpLsJ3VpqQjQBHvdMTWBl0XvGbziJFVGCHWYLhf9oukorQPxbqbhuzGhEsop7Rj8TefEpqJb/s1600/pending+-+pink+lonestar+quilt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY52MZnobUdB7ZFkwQChMUsoncJGQ4j4y1-pAH0DInpwphyHypiLfc2-dSsrXUl5N1H80HNpLsJ3VpqQjQBHvdMTWBl0XvGbziJFVGCHWYLhf9oukorQPxbqbhuzGhEsop7Rj8TefEpqJb/s320/pending+-+pink+lonestar+quilt+1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div> <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A truly exceptional loneststar with added verve - the quiltmaker chose a glorious pink/rose colour for the setting and carried the same colour through to the back too!! I'm having a hard time parting with this one!</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtsacrrqmKGn7VImqZswTDPyGQhI_e1j3N8zZqSZVpaoymze9KwUzu2OGo9NDrJiUCp8f-sRm38vsLLg_KKhGt032TIxQCH13r0m3_h4HTWELV1IvoNCOC0w9dc-NZ_pzZfrfxaJEVwRX/s1600/pending+-+quilt+from+kit+-+oakleaf+and+acorns+double+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtsacrrqmKGn7VImqZswTDPyGQhI_e1j3N8zZqSZVpaoymze9KwUzu2OGo9NDrJiUCp8f-sRm38vsLLg_KKhGt032TIxQCH13r0m3_h4HTWELV1IvoNCOC0w9dc-NZ_pzZfrfxaJEVwRX/s320/pending+-+quilt+from+kit+-+oakleaf+and+acorns+double+resized.JPG" width="298px" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This one is made from a kit and is in impeccably finished cross stitch - full queen/double size and suitable for master bedroom in that it is not too froufrou but is still lovely!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">All these quilts have been carefully selected by me to have been completely flaw free - no rips or weak spots, nothing coming unstitched and above all no stains or funky odors. What's not to l0ve about any of them. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Watch as the complete collection unfolds on <a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a> and I hope I've made a cloudy unpleasant day a little brighter for you!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Until next time.....hugs! Janet</span></strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-3717809952043830692011-05-02T13:51:00.000-03:002011-05-02T13:51:06.306-03:00VERY FRUGAL QUILTMAKING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am frequently asked if I find the current pricing on fabrics makes it hard to make up-to-the-minute and inspired quilts.</div><br />
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My response is that if you know where to look you needn’t spend a whole lot on fabric, and free patterns are at your fingertips everywhere on the internet. If you have steeped yourself in traditional design and gathered in your files pictures of many blocks and inspired designs from the past it should be easy to draft a pattern for yourself and to draft one that is at your current skill level.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNkHaIxUDItDrjgZt1b4DyYlYauIBlIKDug3zRVrBJexVJAlP2IHrdt_eyIxGhucvg6qa9WNgNeAyf2uiEdltAky9j41PTPASg_i2zatzY1X3wH8rHehSHXbXdray2niklTApCk-3ubZ9/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+009+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNkHaIxUDItDrjgZt1b4DyYlYauIBlIKDug3zRVrBJexVJAlP2IHrdt_eyIxGhucvg6qa9WNgNeAyf2uiEdltAky9j41PTPASg_i2zatzY1X3wH8rHehSHXbXdray2niklTApCk-3ubZ9/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+009+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A case in point: I am an inveterate hoarder of scraps – I make a lot of quilts and buy my backing fabric by the bolt, so when I trim my quilts as I am completing them, I end up with several inches off each side of the quilt, and squirrel that plain ecru muslin away in a bag. Recently this cache has been growing and I’ve been wondering what to do with it .................</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNkHaIxUDItDrjgZt1b4DyYlYauIBlIKDug3zRVrBJexVJAlP2IHrdt_eyIxGhucvg6qa9WNgNeAyf2uiEdltAky9j41PTPASg_i2zatzY1X3wH8rHehSHXbXdray2niklTApCk-3ubZ9/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+009+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNkHaIxUDItDrjgZt1b4DyYlYauIBlIKDug3zRVrBJexVJAlP2IHrdt_eyIxGhucvg6qa9WNgNeAyf2uiEdltAky9j41PTPASg_i2zatzY1X3wH8rHehSHXbXdray2niklTApCk-3ubZ9/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+009+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enter a giveaway that the Alma and Barb at Blackbird Design hosted to publicise their beautiful new Moda fabric line – Antique Fair – (what’s not to love with this fabric) and when I won, it was for 4 lovely little 2.5 square sample packs – in total 168 luscious little squares of pretty and colourful fabric. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did the math and figured I could make 84 four patches – and I could arrange them maybe 9 by 9 and with some sashing, maybe a border, end up with a sweet baby quilt of about 44 by 44 – no cost to me – right?</div><br />
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And the most recent line of Blackbird Design too! Win/Win! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V5-RXkSYd_43YX4J8dQzv1f7kfGUB2PhQzKG_-adQPSUmp-d4VsjIJM2QOhyphenhyphenBCPPglR1LJaODd6NyvrS6JyoQdQ66WD4KVBNQQ8R3jgZGF_QvTXplFuEockrokt60rWpe4XykPZ15EI0/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+008+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V5-RXkSYd_43YX4J8dQzv1f7kfGUB2PhQzKG_-adQPSUmp-d4VsjIJM2QOhyphenhyphenBCPPglR1LJaODd6NyvrS6JyoQdQ66WD4KVBNQQ8R3jgZGF_QvTXplFuEockrokt60rWpe4XykPZ15EI0/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+008+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>You'll note that I'm piecing by hand - my supplies are limited to thread, a needle, a few glass headed pins and a two inch square of template plastic which I keep from project to project in a plastic sleeve for my templates.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUShyphenhyphenMppAE_Xx5QAqX0J-_pkQjf2f6DYoCqsOiuDOHnoZR6SmaFjYkWXOgtXTGdP99f_cKoSUViVXMm1Ab7BsI9VgASbkEtKw5aQM6y8v8hpyRnfkSRE8wzThMgGBTuB0bsDAueV6lbpGX/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+007+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUShyphenhyphenMppAE_Xx5QAqX0J-_pkQjf2f6DYoCqsOiuDOHnoZR6SmaFjYkWXOgtXTGdP99f_cKoSUViVXMm1Ab7BsI9VgASbkEtKw5aQM6y8v8hpyRnfkSRE8wzThMgGBTuB0bsDAueV6lbpGX/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+007+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I can piece a four patch in just ten minutes and tuck it away and get on with my other paying projects - this method works for me - the piecing is accurate and acceptable the first time round and can be picked up and put away without the time and effort waster of setting up and then putting away my machine.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eEImjgUei-1PDG3BjQY2c3-y8h-pychrz3v5CnMHGAh9qtj1vQ1iByfdtkMwOPRVOEMLZ1hG80i26TM8xKwiT1DyqhyphenhypheneIhRg4UmKIGGKEmBQQBEOedrwTUVemnQc2KycgGh8PlZg4W8o/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+006+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eEImjgUei-1PDG3BjQY2c3-y8h-pychrz3v5CnMHGAh9qtj1vQ1iByfdtkMwOPRVOEMLZ1hG80i26TM8xKwiT1DyqhyphenhypheneIhRg4UmKIGGKEmBQQBEOedrwTUVemnQc2KycgGh8PlZg4W8o/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+006+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Being still on dial up (groan!!) I can stitch a seam in the time it takes to load an image-heavy page, so I'm not sitting here twiddling my thumbs!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFjT5Tnbc6wUDN4YqYjD-__kdeNjjB7Kt_537y6iyGvQHh6dsQbIDWFL-A39O-oHGhZi7wEv10KkQvLGKNdceH0GtEomR6seA_MwMdr3gXzG4rv0sebRqjFvWsu1TJ6h8QbzBdatoFpFq/s1600/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+001+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFjT5Tnbc6wUDN4YqYjD-__kdeNjjB7Kt_537y6iyGvQHh6dsQbIDWFL-A39O-oHGhZi7wEv10KkQvLGKNdceH0GtEomR6seA_MwMdr3gXzG4rv0sebRqjFvWsu1TJ6h8QbzBdatoFpFq/s320/simplequiltmaking+-+blackbird+design+4+patch+001+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<strong>A big thank you to the gals at Blackbird Designs for that generous giveaway! </strong><br />
<a href="http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/">http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/</a> <strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Folks should bookmark this URL and check back often - Alma and and Barb have frequent giveaways and the prizes are always really great!!!</strong><br />
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<strong>As I make progress I'll post more pictures of this project - I hope to have it ready to present at Quilts at the Harbour Show and Sale, and as well at my studio's series of Pre-Christmas open houses - "A Coastal Christmas"</strong> <strong><a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a></strong><br />
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<strong>Bye for now - Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-51076180128036946652011-04-20T16:47:00.000-03:002011-04-20T16:47:35.763-03:00DO YOU OWN A KINDLE? Did you know you can lend and borrow e-books? Did you know that there is a great organization that aims to place a Kindle in the hands of each school student in developing nations - here's how you can help....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today I read about a really inspiring international group of people working in cooperation with educators in developing countries and with business partners in the book publishing industry to bring about changes in the ineffective and random way in which books have, up until now, been made available to students and their families in developing nations.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Check it out at:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.worldreader.org/how-we-operate.php">http://www.worldreader.org/how-we-operate.php</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'd like you to read about worldreader.org and get an idea of what their mission is and how they are accomplishing it. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This not-for-profit Non Governmental Organization has only been off the ground since November 2010 and yet they have had some remarkable successes in their pilot project and are about to launch a second project as well. Read through their website and see if their goals and methods are a fit for the way you look at problems and solve them, and then donate - it doesn't matter how little as long as we each give a bit.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SVuA-GErIDIG_7P11e5l2rHruoPtP-Mxn6SmFP-n4Fk2oq_Nk3eH6LJ5a9PADo-w3w08UGwzn1-p_yHc6Cu6Ox1lo4y9O04XZCcCLByWOrA5FJzRPw6Hx9iLxoqGxevWDuuILQ33Ds1u/s1600/Courtesy+of+worldreader.org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SVuA-GErIDIG_7P11e5l2rHruoPtP-Mxn6SmFP-n4Fk2oq_Nk3eH6LJ5a9PADo-w3w08UGwzn1-p_yHc6Cu6Ox1lo4y9O04XZCcCLByWOrA5FJzRPw6Hx9iLxoqGxevWDuuILQ33Ds1u/s320/Courtesy+of+worldreader.org.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above: the international team working in Ghana.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">Courtesy of worldreader.org</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Below, children in one of the first classrooms to start using Kindles in Ghana, are amazed at their new view of the world and with the fact they can take them home and share with their families.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECLx4UG3RFRTx2vyH4hb088SMZKseaP6L6qgQYEWt_7aG7aw8lrQuSrZ1RtLsOjBtWzDRTuxUdJ9pijNhYai1h7DnVfAh72zOltdpuZcHkM1TeH0qOBWmo2cLJsoAC2RFwDd4FtFuoc-P/s1600/worldreader.org+-+putting+kindles+in+the+hands+of+students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECLx4UG3RFRTx2vyH4hb088SMZKseaP6L6qgQYEWt_7aG7aw8lrQuSrZ1RtLsOjBtWzDRTuxUdJ9pijNhYai1h7DnVfAh72zOltdpuZcHkM1TeH0qOBWmo2cLJsoAC2RFwDd4FtFuoc-P/s1600/worldreader.org+-+putting+kindles+in+the+hands+of+students.jpg" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> Courtesy of worldreader.org</em></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next, go to the Booklending.com website's blog <a href="http://blog.booklending.com/2011/04/helping-worldreader-change-kids-lives-with-books/">http://blog.booklending.com/2011/04/helping-worldreader-change-kids-lives-with-books/</a> and read about the fundraising partnership Catherine has set up to tap her large membership and encourage them to take a one month challenge to donate $5000 worth of Amazon gift cards to worldreader.org - you will note that Amazon has partnered to sell discounted first quality Kindles to worldreader for distribution, so your gift dollars go much farther.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Follow the instructions on Catherine's blog entry to make a donation - I just did, and I feel a whole lot prouder of myself!!!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Back to quilting in my next post!!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Bye for now - Janet</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> ***************************************</span></strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-38007007010214463962011-04-20T14:42:00.001-03:002011-04-20T14:50:32.600-03:00Looking through my stash of books on quilting, taking stock of where I'm at....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>(Lately, I've been feeling a little restless and unfocussed after a prolonged period of working on the same three projects. So as soon as I finished the first phase of one project, I gave myself a week's vacation. I feel the better for it!)</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPpc9nosrG6WAiopvhG7ZfjQ1ZHdqJJ20Jj7yZNDkk8X9ydMp5AbTOYqe_g-tGd8iXRVTuNOhJ_ko4jnBhAOzbCd85IQIsHS9g556-fqCBkh631MjKbJl_l296rl55kW2lgpjnWiaC2uW/s1600/00217++doll+quilt+w+bedding++1+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPpc9nosrG6WAiopvhG7ZfjQ1ZHdqJJ20Jj7yZNDkk8X9ydMp5AbTOYqe_g-tGd8iXRVTuNOhJ_ko4jnBhAOzbCd85IQIsHS9g556-fqCBkh631MjKbJl_l296rl55kW2lgpjnWiaC2uW/s320/00217++doll+quilt+w+bedding++1+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the time of year that I feel the need to go through my stash, my started but laid aside projects, books and patterns, and to weed out items I know I am not likely going to use - I set them aside for the Quilters' Gently Used table at the Quilts at the Harbour Show, which is held on the last weekend in September every year - this year is no exception, so put a ring around Saturday September 24, and Sunday September 25, 2011 and be sure to pop by - we'll be looking for you! We always have great items for quilters to add to your stash!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz48OFeLicwB_wbtFBpBPKkNormqz8ShF2IIvlcCPjQa-u-EIGKqZwUd12L5KGvB6sOt_w83jf3a_6R_GYcHc9PkPKiyzuF6EQMXT-sjrFNFkq4RdCtHWnLST5t_-AYq1cibDHwS85hlhH/s1600/flying-geese-resized-724918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz48OFeLicwB_wbtFBpBPKkNormqz8ShF2IIvlcCPjQa-u-EIGKqZwUd12L5KGvB6sOt_w83jf3a_6R_GYcHc9PkPKiyzuF6EQMXT-sjrFNFkq4RdCtHWnLST5t_-AYq1cibDHwS85hlhH/s1600/flying-geese-resized-724918.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The above two pictures are of several projects I completed over the last year or two - they vary from a small quilt, mattress and pillow with pillowcase designed to fit the little doll's cradle also in the picture, and directly above an amish-style queen sized strippy Flying Geese quilt which was entirely handpieced and handquilted. I'm lately exploring another way to produce flying geese more quickly but just as accurately as these were done.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">********************************</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnPxZggDw4LbXi8RLfUP_0xNf29lrHTHiLh5b0G6rSwTRZ4rT0nL9dllcz9zQpqbwx_JdnZ2ZpWKgmA7QcnoMQg6_yTDkkLmLT6twFCeuKJP0VuP6ZDEkQ1-3_dYw0fBHky-qOfSCKMua/s1600/Complete+Guide+to+Quilting+-+Fons+and+Porter+resized.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnPxZggDw4LbXi8RLfUP_0xNf29lrHTHiLh5b0G6rSwTRZ4rT0nL9dllcz9zQpqbwx_JdnZ2ZpWKgmA7QcnoMQg6_yTDkkLmLT6twFCeuKJP0VuP6ZDEkQ1-3_dYw0fBHky-qOfSCKMua/s320/Complete+Guide+to+Quilting+-+Fons+and+Porter+resized.bmp" width="283px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At the moment, I'm completely out of fresh books and magazines to read and since I need to read an hour or two before turning out the light, I've begun going through my library of quilt books and periodicals. I find this a really stimulating past time. Last night I was going through a Kaffe Fassett book (ISBN 1 - 56 - 158 - 650 - )</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and also "Homage to Amanda" (ISBN 1 - 55853 - 268 - 4)</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">These two books sound as though they might be at opposites in the interest spectrum, but early on in the book, Kaffe states his and his co-author Liza Prior Lucy's strong base in traditional vintage quilts. Stunning quilts and lots of great ideas and inspiration in both those books!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And of course I must remind you all of Fons and Porter's Complete Guide to Quilting - I cut my quilting teeth on this text and keep a copy handy as it has so many handy little boxces of highlighted tips - right now I need to look up the diagonal measurements of squares in order to estimate an on-point quilt's size.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkOoMWdzlFNjk9gdI7UCDS5nfDkBiZfn860Z0Z6DDbCWHE8pqnzYBtDujDLvBGg47MwJEcI8KP5jHsmwyZywGQIqZ7Az5DYbrN-j37iO60oAR0qzawpawGAjtNZQM6RonM5UExXOp8HyQ/s1600/9patch-indigo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkOoMWdzlFNjk9gdI7UCDS5nfDkBiZfn860Z0Z6DDbCWHE8pqnzYBtDujDLvBGg47MwJEcI8KP5jHsmwyZywGQIqZ7Az5DYbrN-j37iO60oAR0qzawpawGAjtNZQM6RonM5UExXOp8HyQ/s320/9patch-indigo.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today, in between tidying up a few almost complete small projects on my work table, I have been going through one plastic tote of stash and finding a place to put some very tempting new pieces of fabric. This has led me to all sorts of new ideas and to poking through my computer files of inspiration pictures. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have remembered a wonderful almost toile like fabric I liberated from a high end printed cotton skirt I bought at Frenchy's: it is a series of six old engravings rendered on raspberry, rose, and two shades of a dark taupe - the subject is a turn of the 20th century America's Cup race and I see a quilt in the economy quilt pattern as suggested above - I think later I'll get that fabric out and at least cut the interior blocks to be framed by some yet to be found additions from the stash - a nice tie in to my <a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a> projects - follow along as I get this new project started.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">*****************************************</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And below some teasers from my two current major projects:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcZODbIlhiw0mOPVZWrZCfBKimxJo5mnDBjFergWASYAl2yzI70-WK8dQHr3PgfJttaR6KwerenWUDuJ_bEi4Qx6UaYhKxaTNoWc9wPGvoSEMfQxPFj3HWP7Nrs0hVFw-8UtNtCV7olP0/s1600/launching+the+kayak+004+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcZODbIlhiw0mOPVZWrZCfBKimxJo5mnDBjFergWASYAl2yzI70-WK8dQHr3PgfJttaR6KwerenWUDuJ_bEi4Qx6UaYhKxaTNoWc9wPGvoSEMfQxPFj3HWP7Nrs0hVFw-8UtNtCV7olP0/s320/launching+the+kayak+004+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Launching a kayak from the wedding quilt I described some posts back - you'll be seeing more of this later..........</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">and</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU7gIAPMKA3kx9D9jN1WsZvlT6PKxesE3CXMSxNj-9XahyphenhyphenkZDvVySMvKHCMQ7aoF8FPL1Z7PTX02KJpCDDeieKIieO4lqkabpOSeqf2TbTfbUCunswoqkZh6iRUBqlncG3TUbhtM2sHmV/s1600/crazy+quilt+restoration+003+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU7gIAPMKA3kx9D9jN1WsZvlT6PKxesE3CXMSxNj-9XahyphenhyphenkZDvVySMvKHCMQ7aoF8FPL1Z7PTX02KJpCDDeieKIieO4lqkabpOSeqf2TbTfbUCunswoqkZh6iRUBqlncG3TUbhtM2sHmV/s320/crazy+quilt+restoration+003+resized.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above are the last blocks to be restored on the lovely heritage silk crazy quilt; the final step is now the fancy embroidery stitches that need to be replaced in spots. You gotta love that printed-on flapper!!! Thank heavens that particular block survive the decades since the quilt was made in 1928!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Talk to you later - hugs! Janet</span></strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-36928705553897913512011-04-16T19:09:00.000-03:002011-04-16T19:09:24.567-03:00Launching "A coastal Christmas"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over the years I have collected many vintage treasures, mainly in the area of vintage china and pottery, fine vintage bed linens and a few carefully selected vintage and antique quilts.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is in addition to my primary business of one of a kind quiltmaking to special order and my sister business of buying and selling vintage cross stitch and applique quilt kits (<a href="http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/">http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/</a>) .</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2-YOC67MzWSRM2Ay4ckWS_rbX59EEWusK71czvBxi9mIUJsq6PZaqvDP6Jimp7AReQsbFUXRvx7Wxq-moZbtVhKGucg80QChVDbMja0dbdFFcCiDrV40nxxHG2sjMt5AWNiPXBLH3z0Z/s1600/pending+12+pce+lustreware+teaset1++resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2-YOC67MzWSRM2Ay4ckWS_rbX59EEWusK71czvBxi9mIUJsq6PZaqvDP6Jimp7AReQsbFUXRvx7Wxq-moZbtVhKGucg80QChVDbMja0dbdFFcCiDrV40nxxHG2sjMt5AWNiPXBLH3z0Z/s320/pending+12+pce+lustreware+teaset1++resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">12 piece Japanese lustreware breakfast set</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The time has come where I need to start dispersing my carefully selected treasures and I am opening a site called "A Coastal Christmas" (<a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a>) which will be both an online and a bricks and mortar resource, operating year round for fine</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">vintage treasures out of my home here in Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObRCvts3XJZQ4fdIbcvGtj11wuflZStgnm81nUWL96YqV0I42JcKZABn4HCtlz9FBa0D9OfG3nKt8PBRGRyy3Y40poA8xFRCar_vW8y7FZyCwL93PvIb0zWYFGN6m4PMXVUjhfhu-4hhb/s1600/pending+-+pr+cotton+pillowcases+-+tiny+embr+and+crochet+picot+edge+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObRCvts3XJZQ4fdIbcvGtj11wuflZStgnm81nUWL96YqV0I42JcKZABn4HCtlz9FBa0D9OfG3nKt8PBRGRyy3Y40poA8xFRCar_vW8y7FZyCwL93PvIb0zWYFGN6m4PMXVUjhfhu-4hhb/s320/pending+-+pr+cotton+pillowcases+-+tiny+embr+and+crochet+picot+edge+resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Sweet pair of hand embroidered and picot edge pillowslips</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some of the items offered will overlap with my other site - <a href="http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/">http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/</a>, which sells a variety of vintage treasures, but most will be new and fresh to the market.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn9Elz_mzCRoNnnrrkuAlSe9PPjVqPI3-HzNBfuaLi6iYx48tVgoloA2-xnaXCA-YzXkELhNahQ0m6jRnLOOLlnBLI-xq7Gb1dhBKZXkxl0joxE8ZJTK7wRO2Qw7FDw8tu7fYeGmPSXCC/s1600/pending+-+quilt+from+kit+-+oakleaf+and+acorns+double+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn9Elz_mzCRoNnnrrkuAlSe9PPjVqPI3-HzNBfuaLi6iYx48tVgoloA2-xnaXCA-YzXkELhNahQ0m6jRnLOOLlnBLI-xq7Gb1dhBKZXkxl0joxE8ZJTK7wRO2Qw7FDw8tu7fYeGmPSXCC/s320/pending+-+quilt+from+kit+-+oakleaf+and+acorns+double+resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Double/queen hand embroidered and quilted - from a vintage kit</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I am offering is the opportunity to choose a lovely treasure that already has been pre-selectd out of the less desirable items which usually make up the majority of vintage and antique items in shops and online.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If it had major defects I walked on by - I am choosy in what I buy and you will find no items with major defects here. If I would'nt display it myself - I won't sell it to you.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkxBBIFwnzndf4lpIx7hmMmBRKq8IIwz9pqaW2l3ubJWa5QvtJYmZYeGpPQnvsX01a4hwuUyL-DBSJgZlZb5OdDa3uWIj8S20AlTFgAetmRK9MkvwI_U-s1egT8logtfR8AJsy6h9L8Zi/s1600/pending+-+antique+flying+geese+det+5+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkxBBIFwnzndf4lpIx7hmMmBRKq8IIwz9pqaW2l3ubJWa5QvtJYmZYeGpPQnvsX01a4hwuUyL-DBSJgZlZb5OdDa3uWIj8S20AlTFgAetmRK9MkvwI_U-s1egT8logtfR8AJsy6h9L8Zi/s320/pending+-+antique+flying+geese+det+5+resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Late 1890's indigo and double pink flying geese quilt - immaculate!</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is particularly true of the vintage and antique quilts and the vintage bed linens I offer - you deserve to be able to display a clean undamaged quilt and linens on your bed, and you won't find anything else here.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So please go on over to <a href="http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/">http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/</a> and view the items I have shown you above - along with details and pricing. Remember, I am set up to take Paypal and am happy to discuss two or three equal monthly payments to secure your choices. Otherwise your personal cheque is acceptable in USD, other currencies please check with me first.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">*******************************************</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meanwhile, next week regular chatty blogging will resume. I've been very busy with commissions over the last couple of months, but that is easing slightly.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Until next week - cheers! Janet</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">*********************************************</span></strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-83922376964654083272011-03-02T12:31:00.000-04:002011-03-02T12:31:23.873-04:00What I've Been Doing Lately - it certainly hasn't been blogging!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>In terms of my current workload, there simply aren't enough hours in a day. I have a full plate - designing and working on a queen/king size wedding quilt; doing an appliqued art quilt which is one in a long series of art quilts for a very good return customer; working on a wholecloth queen sized quilt for another return customer; and restoring a beautiful circa 1928 silk crazy quilt. In addition I write and research a blog entry a week for a client and manage SEO for him; as well as researching and continually checking the secondary market in vintage quilt kits, both applique and cross stitch for my business at <a href="http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/">http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/</a> </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>No real excuses for losing my blogging mojo though, except for the fact that winter should be over and isn't! I admit to a certain amount of cabin fever and impatience and some of my local friends in my sidebar are saying the same thing.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpRrwX42v3hq2NiTQJsf4bLcosG1RMotcEM3zV94Z2Di-toFHjFYBJL_7UXAGcRtXCpdExx8XFMdHdxO_-hhR1AuJOHRzYgHd0An08rdvqf3sEU0Vu4zeUi2hKGvAlrIr0-yP7L82pmPi/s1600/lindays+quilt+003+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpRrwX42v3hq2NiTQJsf4bLcosG1RMotcEM3zV94Z2Di-toFHjFYBJL_7UXAGcRtXCpdExx8XFMdHdxO_-hhR1AuJOHRzYgHd0An08rdvqf3sEU0Vu4zeUi2hKGvAlrIr0-yP7L82pmPi/s400/lindays+quilt+003+resized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><strong>On to a happier subject: Here is the centre block in a medallion of 9 blocks celebrating aspects of a recently married couple's life together. This particular block celebrates their wedding day, and when finished will be embroidered with their names and their wedding date. So it doesn't quite look finished, but I'm currently ready to move on and come back later to put the finishing touches on. The background is one of the Hoffman 1895 range of batiks as will be many other of the fabrics in the quilt. The 1895 range of colours is very pleasing, and the fabric is silky, soft and very closely woven so it is very stable and takes both embroidery and applique well. The appliques have been done using vintage floral prints and some more recent repro fabrics from the 1800's, and have been enhanced by embroidered details. I hope you like it!</strong><br />
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<strong>Maybe in the next few days I will have something to show you on the crazy quilt restoration, especially if we get a little natural daylight around her! The flash does unpredictable things to silk due to the silks' irridescence and lustre - the photographed colours are not true and tend to be far more harsh than they are in the flesh - oh well!</strong><br />
<strong>I must get going before the day is fully out of control - I need to bring some more wood into the house and make some supper casserole preparations as well as do a little more stitching.</strong><br />
<strong>Stay warm and look out on the ice - driveways are treacherous around here!</strong><br />
<strong>Hugs</strong><br />
<strong>Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-55353392093690161992011-02-11T13:11:00.000-04:002011-02-11T13:11:59.333-04:00CHECK OUT MY GUEST POST at http://www.coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I've just had my first ever guest post published on Jenna's blog: <a href="http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/">http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/</a></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCJVfHRu1kd1nvHDeIYF4-tmHEgAzCylzpfB9AJ2JBYCdk_VBGcx_vTu5fT2k_-Jf_iKGxuSaO57JXJ2zsQO7KYG_PKY0jVIaHuylqB0PzDliSZfv6wBO6RVqtPBVAgdCzfSArO5scvgE/s1600/cold+antler+farm+wool+csa+002+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCJVfHRu1kd1nvHDeIYF4-tmHEgAzCylzpfB9AJ2JBYCdk_VBGcx_vTu5fT2k_-Jf_iKGxuSaO57JXJ2zsQO7KYG_PKY0jVIaHuylqB0PzDliSZfv6wBO6RVqtPBVAgdCzfSArO5scvgE/s320/cold+antler+farm+wool+csa+002+resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Needless to say, I'm just thrilled that Jenna is hosting my post on her blog! Back in the fall, I quickly joined her wool CSA when she announced it and was lucky to get in as there is now a waiting list. I can hardly wait to receive the major shipment of this year's share which is expected to be sometime in late summer after her sheep are shorn and the wool processed and spun at a nearby mill.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1go97vijpAwZeKsFEwTTgOoh4lCkzsG-I2-pRcCnArgRj8dygvefY3wTrNWDPaq4B_Tx7ELuSBDfv5KQ51e2EddK9grmfxwS3691nEdeoPNrL2-hoXsQ__5mHHEreEcCkqSfzugUudDPV/s1600/cold+antler+farm+-+knit+cap+002++resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1go97vijpAwZeKsFEwTTgOoh4lCkzsG-I2-pRcCnArgRj8dygvefY3wTrNWDPaq4B_Tx7ELuSBDfv5KQ51e2EddK9grmfxwS3691nEdeoPNrL2-hoXsQ__5mHHEreEcCkqSfzugUudDPV/s320/cold+antler+farm+-+knit+cap+002++resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Since I received two skeins and the hat I made for Jenna took less than one skein, I am going to knit another, smaller one for a baby or child this weekend and will show you the results as soon as it is finished and put up for sale on my shop: <a href="http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/">http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/</a> which in addition to vintage treasures features items for babies and children.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>*************************************</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>In other news, the giveaway held by <a href="http://www.fiberfarm.com/blog">http://www.fiberfarm.com/blog</a> in aid of Pete's Greens is over, having raised over $11,000 to help cover the uninsured loss by fire of the huge barn which supported the Pete's CSA, and I was among the lucky winners - I have won the entire selection of patterns published by "Champagne Maker" at: <a href="http://stitchpoet.blogspot.com/">http://stitchpoet.blogspot.com/</a> I gave a child's size wholecloth quilt kit to the cause, and Julie, the winner will be receiving it in the mail very soon.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>(I must apologize to all my various giveaway winners as this winter has seen a huge amount of snow and it has been very difficult for me to get out as I am somewhat disabled. I still have one set of prizes to go out on Monday - everything else is on its way!!!)</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDqmbhBvk3zPxkC_W1fj9MeYCv_dwyoLBYrLS3HS9G5szUmg9sd9XtR5u4cBFFikUYMu6V5nC4kY9KtIuzEFFXDxdUkoenQJn1I5wr-x3yQ_qCZ7pm-YNphq6FCSs4xCPHZMPOs8HRf1F/s1600/Champgne+Maker+-+Stitich+Poet++resized.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDqmbhBvk3zPxkC_W1fj9MeYCv_dwyoLBYrLS3HS9G5szUmg9sd9XtR5u4cBFFikUYMu6V5nC4kY9KtIuzEFFXDxdUkoenQJn1I5wr-x3yQ_qCZ7pm-YNphq6FCSs4xCPHZMPOs8HRf1F/s320/Champgne+Maker+-+Stitich+Poet++resized.bmp" width="240" /></a></div><strong>Hmmmmmm..... maybe something like this to make from Jenna's next shipment of wool? This lovely selection of pretty patterns is going to really expand my horizons - I need to brush up on cables!!! Or maybe a lovely cowl - I'll also be getting that pattern - actually there will be over 30 arriving on my doorstep very soon!!! Yeay!!</strong><br />
<strong>Have to go take lunch out of the oven - catch you later.</strong><br />
<strong>Keep warm and safe this weekend.</strong><br />
<strong>Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-68428833467812971072011-02-01T14:05:00.000-04:002011-02-01T14:05:43.802-04:00A REALLY DESERVING GIVEAWAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63iRRMlrv4BnY8GBE60MrmNsE-ImGlFyQ-bFOcGlowiP57JMy05i8kPl5HTUCrsEib7t-4cJmvZuFsITT-TNPKzIQQIViLIEhdf9S5Bn_y9I5N0WqlxA-NZgfetJ8QuTeR18UIMGoq_iU/s1600/petes+greens+-with-berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63iRRMlrv4BnY8GBE60MrmNsE-ImGlFyQ-bFOcGlowiP57JMy05i8kPl5HTUCrsEib7t-4cJmvZuFsITT-TNPKzIQQIViLIEhdf9S5Bn_y9I5N0WqlxA-NZgfetJ8QuTeR18UIMGoq_iU/s320/petes+greens+-with-berries.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><strong>I received an email yesterday alerting me to a giveaway benefitting a young farmer in Vermont who lost his whole CSA storage and processing barn to fire two weeks ago - a loss of half a million dollars which is only partially covered by insurance, will make it difficult for him to get up and running again as he lost all his stock, freezers full of meats and his packing machinery and stores. His CSA offers meat, fresh vegetables and fruit and locally grown and processed grain. People in the localvore and green movement are rallying to his support and to the support of the organic CSA movement.</strong><br />
<strong>Check out what happened at Pete's Greens website: <a href="http://www.petesgreens.com/index.html">http://www.petesgreens.com/index.html</a> Then go to the site that is hosting the most amazing giveaway to benefit Pete's operation and help get him up and running again: <a href="http://www.fiberfarm.com/2011/01/a-friend-in-need">http://www.fiberfarm.com/2011/01/a-friend-in-need</a></strong><br />
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<strong>Even if you are unable to donate, you can still enter the giveaway, but you will have only until Feb 6 to do so - so hurry!</strong><br />
<strong>In the winter, I am always short of disposable income due to extra electric and snow clearing costs, but I always have lots of good things in my stash so I have offered the choice of one of two prizes:</strong><br />
<strong>1) A Benartex wholecloth quilt kit - all you add is the quilting thread and the quilt batting and I am also offering email support and advice to the first time hand quilter too!</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QSLrUqv26uCCocCIkSAzAD5MUXYT_N-ZfWnO4aV_7egLxlNOUpTfDcKcDZ1u5r_OJnZyfR9iv8Rsi4hJRyT9XOLqICIislxa9J3dq3xJH0cVowKOEI4-8I31MIgmcY3NasXJvt3LcZZ-/s1600/benartex+anchors+aweigh+40x54+resized+again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QSLrUqv26uCCocCIkSAzAD5MUXYT_N-ZfWnO4aV_7egLxlNOUpTfDcKcDZ1u5r_OJnZyfR9iv8Rsi4hJRyT9XOLqICIislxa9J3dq3xJH0cVowKOEI4-8I31MIgmcY3NasXJvt3LcZZ-/s320/benartex+anchors+aweigh+40x54+resized+again.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><br />
<strong>OR 2)you may choose a $50 gift certificate to spend on my vintage treasures online boutique: <a href="http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/">http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/</a> which features children's items, vintage handmade and embroidered houselinens, small vintage decorative items, etc. </strong><br />
<strong>Pop on over and check it out - just click on the button in my sidebar on the right.</strong><br />
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<strong>*******************************************************************************</strong><br />
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<strong>Remember, too, that the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Giveaway starts today - go to <a href="http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2011/01/pillow-talk.html">http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2011/01/pillow-talk.html</a> to get started! There are some great blogs to visit and some great prizes.</strong><br />
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<strong>See you soon - meantime, if you are on the eastern seaboard, both Canada and the US, batten down for a good one - I see a roaring woodstove and home made bread in my immediate future!!</strong><br />
<strong>Take care - and warm hugs from Janet!</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-61882773635141146352011-01-25T15:12:00.001-04:002011-01-25T15:19:05.037-04:00ENDURING WINTER - WAITING FOR SPRING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafBv115SLJvJsqB0ZsKH2rNhFStVMrQxKjlxF2p0ECgPSHgU3qnt2VxYenkoOZAzGZ4D52UfbXMVbmRYDQ9Hp_MacbT6ZGqiT4rpN1dFSP8YPmnSAQqeeIw8-2CGFXAqU3kMzVueh9j01/s1600/HH+7+jan+2011++resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafBv115SLJvJsqB0ZsKH2rNhFStVMrQxKjlxF2p0ECgPSHgU3qnt2VxYenkoOZAzGZ4D52UfbXMVbmRYDQ9Hp_MacbT6ZGqiT4rpN1dFSP8YPmnSAQqeeIw8-2CGFXAqU3kMzVueh9j01/s320/HH+7+jan+2011++resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><strong>Last Friday we had a little of everything - we woke up to snow which later in the morning became heavy, but by later in the afternoon we had passed through sleet and settled on drizzling rain and a wind from the southeast. </strong><br />
<strong>By bedtime, the wind had backed around to the northwest and was howling in off the Bay of Fundy. Saturday morning dawned very cold but with the wind gradually lessening. The high winds had coincided with high tide and the phase of the moon which means a higher tide than usual, and the damage to facilities at the harbour here was extensive. </strong><br />
<strong>Compare this photo with the one I posted in my last post - the view that sunny summer day was taken from the same level as the structures in the photo above are built on - the ripped off shingles were caused by large items such as a small shed and the small craft mooring pontoons which were in their winter storage positions nearby being thrown against them. The buildings are seasonally used storage for the Lobster Pound Restaurant and a building used as a Gallery for artists. It would appear the Lobster Pound itself and the Restaurant and washroom buildings must have had water in them too, and their raised septic bed had damage. </strong><br />
<strong>There was as well some erosion damage to seaside embankments on which homes are located. This points up very clearly the peril coastal communities the world round will face in the future due to rising sea levels coupled with increasing intensity of weather systems affecting us.</strong><br />
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<strong>The weekend was intensely cold, at a consistent minus 18 celsius but the biggest factor in enduring that cold in an old uninsulated house like mine is the wind factor and that was variable settling down a little Saturday only to start to rise again Sunday evening and peak last night before settling again. </strong><br />
<strong>I did my usual thing - wandered around with a supply of left over quilt batting strips and a butter knife, tucking batting into all the drafty cracks I found, and keeping doors to the outside and to unheated parts of my house covered with heavy drapes. Both days I was a sight to behold with a knitted cap tied under my chin and two layers of clothing topped by a nordic fleece dressing gown - yikes - thank goodness no one was out and about visiting and thank goodness I didn't have a chimney fire - what a sight to behold! But today, it is rising to a balmy minus 11 and some gentle snow is sifting down out there and snow heralds warmer weather!</strong><br />
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<strong>Have spent my time searching the internet and writing ideas down for improving my old 1820's house for next year. The old house has at best a layer of birchbark under a layer of shingles and many of the windows really need replacing, but so does my bathroom floor and that must come first. </strong><br />
<strong>I'm looking at another woodburning stove and have found something I just love - it is a compact oven cooktop and is small, sleek and nicely designed and engineered - it would be compatible with my old kitchen and could be installed in front of the bricked up fireplace and bake oven combo. It is manufactured in Vermont so I have sent an email to see if it is possible to buy in Nova Scotia.</strong><br />
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<strong>I also have been checking out a new site that my daughter has launched as a Kindle book lending exchange now that Amazon has allowed lending to take place. Check it out at <a href="http://www.kindlelendingclub.com/">http://www.kindlelendingclub.com/</a> - if you already have a Kindle or are considering buying one, borrowing books makes a lot of sense - even if you can't finish it in the allotted two week span, then you will know if it is a book you'd like to buy and can go ahead and purchase it from Amazon instead. I've put the link on my Blogs and Website sidebar, so go check it out.</strong><br />
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<strong>It's now finally warm enough in the house to be able to attack the hand applique I'm doing, so I must go now and first bring in more wood; and second spend a few hours at quiltmaking.</strong><br />
<strong>Cheers everyone - winter will be over soon!</strong><br />
<strong>Keep warm! Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-48187615883009658552011-01-21T11:39:00.002-04:002011-01-21T12:42:18.440-04:00A GREAT GIVEAWAY OVER AT BELLA'S<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>It's been a busy few weeks since New Years. As always in winter there is a lot to do in an old house to keep the cold and frozen pipes at bay. It has been a scurry of lugging wood in, ashes out; and waking a few times each night to keep the woodstove filled up and pumping heat. We've had lots of snow, but we're now a month past winter solstice and the days are gradually lengthening - can spring be far behind?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I've been busily designing blocks for an appliqued wedding quilt celebrating a life together for a young Nova Scotian couple who were married last August. As it develops and after they are the first to see the photos, I will be sharing them on this blog.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Last evening I was browsing around some new blogs about home decor - wanting to send URL's to an American friend who is renovating a 1930's Arts and Crafts style home, and I came across Bella's blog. Bella is hosting a giveaway which will be drawn next Wednesday. She is giving away a copy of the January 2011 issue of Jeanne d'Arc magazine. A cover shot and a typical inside spread are shown below. Go to <a href="http://bellashabby.blogspot.com/2011/01/jeanne-d-arc-living-magazine-give-away.html">http://bellashabby.blogspot.com/2011/01/jeanne-d-arc-living-magazine-give-away.html</a> to sign up by commenting - you can earn an extra ballot by becoming a follower of Bella's blog and another still if you blog about it on your own blog, as I am doing here.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_J5hHnPN_vb2j7zhiJbRw3dtlc2vrXlgsOWPfcOinEH5svG5tk6Ylt3cJeHiIHO4diumFRh76ylBqsabVyNEG76pU4RBD7M9xonVTXGpOqTY5u3eV1F9lg-DozLBklzvj_O6vYjDsKnZ/s1600/jeanne+d%2527arc+magazine+giveaway+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_J5hHnPN_vb2j7zhiJbRw3dtlc2vrXlgsOWPfcOinEH5svG5tk6Ylt3cJeHiIHO4diumFRh76ylBqsabVyNEG76pU4RBD7M9xonVTXGpOqTY5u3eV1F9lg-DozLBklzvj_O6vYjDsKnZ/s1600/jeanne+d%2527arc+magazine+giveaway+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_aCDeaCIkw4B-uSBry8l8QNhCqjeXpauOwOqnlF20EKqZ8JopIfDCTTXqwfEy8SlKr_ZXZgDQMqtosUagYtEpo3Eos7drNzntlNob9S94KJgWCRrY5ClOotIjhi_nDfHqDKCKicgk-0l/s1600/jeanne+d%2527arc+magazine+giveaway+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_aCDeaCIkw4B-uSBry8l8QNhCqjeXpauOwOqnlF20EKqZ8JopIfDCTTXqwfEy8SlKr_ZXZgDQMqtosUagYtEpo3Eos7drNzntlNob9S94KJgWCRrY5ClOotIjhi_nDfHqDKCKicgk-0l/s320/jeanne+d%2527arc+magazine+giveaway+1.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><strong>This magazine is a high quality publication more like a book than a magazine and it retails for over $17 - I know, because I came close to buying it online the other night and became distracted by a momentary power failure that caused me to have to re-boot. Anyway - now I'm going to wait and see if I'm the lucky one who wins it instead!!!!</strong><br />
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<strong>I'll be back after the weekend to talk a bit about quilting. One bit of news I have is that I have just made a rather large sale of vintage quilt kits so am working on re-stocking inventory. I already have a back order for one kit in particular, so the economy seems to be looking up.</strong><br />
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<strong>Have a great weekend, I'm going to spend mine thinking about planting a few things in the spring!</strong><br />
<strong>Warm hugs!! Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-79975577692089485022010-12-30T17:45:00.002-04:002010-12-30T17:51:28.482-04:00ON THE VERGE OF ANOTHER YEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQDH0aeZGmg3CfwoEoKqooe8AqUmObpszAd_66Rjmsmjf6ZtjZU5E4SG_TdLtojlPBuRcW8nWHBnYz9yLYx9EK4pzS7gr5pVqFv0QktDWmDg2EWL0x3enXvrG0g6TeXAqkrrb_I9rWRDN/s1600/Halls_Harbour+viewing+east+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQDH0aeZGmg3CfwoEoKqooe8AqUmObpszAd_66Rjmsmjf6ZtjZU5E4SG_TdLtojlPBuRcW8nWHBnYz9yLYx9EK4pzS7gr5pVqFv0QktDWmDg2EWL0x3enXvrG0g6TeXAqkrrb_I9rWRDN/s320/Halls_Harbour+viewing+east+side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <strong>Wintry Greetings from my tiny community of Hall's Harbour, which is located about 12 miles due north of Kentville, Nova Scotia on the Fundy Coast. If you follow highway 359 out from Kentville as far north as it goes, this is the scene on entering the Harbour. This photo was taken last summer when the wharf under the bright red Fish House Museum was being restored and raised due to rising ocean waters and the damage that had been done in previous storms. We are fortunate that this construction took place when it did or the last two severe storms and tidal surges could have done a lot of damage.</strong><br />
<strong>You can see from the height of the wharf, that high tide is about thirty five feet above the Harbour's floor, which is exposed at low tide, and has only a tiny stream running through to the ocean.</strong><br />
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<strong>In the winter, the store is closed for the season, as the proprietor is a "snowbird" and spends her winters in Florida. Life here in the winter is very quiet, the community hall and the historical society building are both closed to conserve costly fuel and lower operating expenses, and the community's <a href="mailto:C@psite">C@psite</a> and official clerical seat for the many community organizations moves over to the firehall, which must be heated at all times to assure the continuity of fire and first responder service. The small rural church down the road from me continues its regular schedule of services on Sunday mornings and the occasional hymn sing as well, but mothballs it's second, smaller church on the east road and uses only the lovely 1840's structure over here on the west road. Several of the "year round" residents have taken to wintering in town or in Florida, and the seasonal residents aren't seen until spring either.</strong><br />
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<strong>Over time, many of the younger residents have left for the city, other parts of Canada, and in the case of my daughter and her family, to Europe. Many of the houses now contain one or two aging people at the most but it is heartening to see several younger families raising their kids here, and a few young single people still around too. We all keep an eye out for each other and get through the winter and welcome spring with a sense of relief.</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt85v2wLG6OE8s5A6MqgvL_Wnup4ur4iESAwKiSm5j-q7CHaJ1HqIHOUNWp04K6Qy5NergPLL6eUih0hoOo84fE8wlqmpiuEftbyHEf0XnSuzSfqXCP0jeOliBgYl7lHwFDFYLAluUmxj/s1600/Happy+New+Year+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt85v2wLG6OE8s5A6MqgvL_Wnup4ur4iESAwKiSm5j-q7CHaJ1HqIHOUNWp04K6Qy5NergPLL6eUih0hoOo84fE8wlqmpiuEftbyHEf0XnSuzSfqXCP0jeOliBgYl7lHwFDFYLAluUmxj/s320/Happy+New+Year+5.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Before I go back to taking inventory of the vintage quilt kits I offer for sale on <a href="http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/">http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/</a></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I want to share this sweet vintage New Year's card with you, and also </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I want to remind you that my friend Mich at Redkettle.com is hosting a GIVEAWAY on his blog. Got to <a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a> and leave a comment in order to be entered for a chance to win. The giveaway will be drawn at midnight December 31 - that's tomorrow!!! </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Until tomorrow - enjoy your evening, stay safe and stay warm.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Hugs from Janet!!!</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-68127035990262590442010-12-25T11:26:00.000-04:002010-12-25T11:26:19.382-04:00MERRY CHRISTMAS! AND THE GIVEAWAY WINNER IS.................<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgMSW-M7WszbONapj04HoTr9nGNz8JapEaXw2-vOTbrbV8uNk2y96D3Gxp1eHtaxCWLP16wbszL5jAZq_kOPBsys9qZLpdEHZH4Qiiv1FGkfitoY1O9IvbP-HRSyccv6iRhRVoGErWoZV/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgMSW-M7WszbONapj04HoTr9nGNz8JapEaXw2-vOTbrbV8uNk2y96D3Gxp1eHtaxCWLP16wbszL5jAZq_kOPBsys9qZLpdEHZH4Qiiv1FGkfitoY1O9IvbP-HRSyccv6iRhRVoGErWoZV/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+26.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><strong>I hope you have the blessings of family and friends together today and that all you wish for in the New Year will be yours.</strong><br />
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<strong>Late last night I drew the winner of my Christmas GIVEAWAY and an amazing coincidence took place! My winner is Micki of Irish Muses (<a href="http://thedote.blogspot.com/">http://thedote.blogspot.com/</a>) and guess what? Micki won another giveaway which she is going to re-gift to a friend and won it the exact same way she won mine: she was the last to comment and enter on each one. </strong><br />
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<strong>Now I use Random.org to determine my winners, so there is no playing fast and loose here - a genuine coincidence - last and first seem rarely to be chosen and to have it happen twice in one day? Amazing!!!</strong><br />
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<strong>Micki - I will be sending an email and leaving a comment on your blog, so contact me and tell me what you wish your gift to be - a lap sized wholecloth quilt kit, a set of repro civil war fabric fat quarters, a penny rug kit, a counted cross stitch kit or a lovely hand embroidered and crocheted table runner from my sister site <a href="http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/">http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/</a>.</strong><br />
<strong>I'll get it out to you right after Christmas Holidays</strong>.<br />
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<strong>Today has dawned bright and relatively mild with no snow other than a light skiff on the ground. We may get the tail end of the storm that is hitting Washington at the moment, but that will probably be late tomorrow or on Monday morning.</strong><br />
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<strong>My only daughter and her family live in Europe so it is a long distance celebration, and hence very low key here. Yesterday I visited with dear friends who had all three of their adult sons home at once and had an early Christmas dinner with them as June must work this afternoon. A lovely festive meal and delicious as always.</strong><br />
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<strong>I plan to cook my turkey breast with all the trimmings for New Years and will munch snackies today - hopefully avoiding many of the temptations in the house at the moment, and eating cheese and fruit.</strong><br />
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<strong>I am counting my blessings and enjoying a new-to-me Dodge Caravan that has no rust, and runs very nicely indeed, and preparing to make inroads into the quilt commissions I have on hand.</strong><br />
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<strong>Blessings to you all! Stay safe, stay warm and enjoy family and friends together during this holiday season!</strong><br />
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<strong>Love and hugs</strong><br />
<strong>Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-37746450228435280222010-12-24T11:38:00.000-04:002010-12-24T11:38:08.960-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 1 day left and my giveaway draw is tonight!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1g9u2httoAA2J0ZyEvJeK59AWbncdqUKKxBiEZsK7egO1aGy81K5yCLLMEjdm_NKyGRXLiivJuE_uB-z1S_9u9MSk0BWrY8gka-1A7JNm0ArBxHsgvddoM1MA4xuWfNyiVf5WYMWg6V_/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1g9u2httoAA2J0ZyEvJeK59AWbncdqUKKxBiEZsK7egO1aGy81K5yCLLMEjdm_NKyGRXLiivJuE_uB-z1S_9u9MSk0BWrY8gka-1A7JNm0ArBxHsgvddoM1MA4xuWfNyiVf5WYMWg6V_/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A contemplative Santa from the earlier days of urban life, when high rises were only slightly taller than church steeples and chimneys were still made of brick and mortar! Perhaps fewer world issues for Santa to contemplate, perhaps not; as we need to remember there had just been a major world war and a tragic 'flu epidemic. Yet to come was World War II, and the concepts of mass extinction of peoples and nuclear warfare. I hope we all nurture in our hearts the idea of universal brotherhood and the basic human rights of free speech, education, health services and a constant food supply in the coming years. I want to wish everyone, no matter what they celebrate, their heart's wishes in this coming New Year.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Peace and brotherhood to all!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>On a lighter note, you only have the rest of today to enter for my great GIVEAWAY draw - it will be drawn for at midnight tonight and announced tomorrow morning, so get on over to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>And good luck!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Be safe, warm, content and surrounded by friends and family during this holiday season.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Love</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-34385429715640336102010-12-23T14:00:00.000-04:002010-12-23T14:00:22.069-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 2 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXInQgDfhbhuc_QxSrAe82O7wNd7cMlzNlSpgJttLyHVL_Em-h7qEguOQoQz49QujoSg_avz4zPMHeY2NjRXEnNOM58GWe4DXw66R7zxIbag70V3ygDcXDaXptghoSPqg73sCoG0VGiqbY/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXInQgDfhbhuc_QxSrAe82O7wNd7cMlzNlSpgJttLyHVL_Em-h7qEguOQoQz49QujoSg_avz4zPMHeY2NjRXEnNOM58GWe4DXw66R7zxIbag70V3ygDcXDaXptghoSPqg73sCoG0VGiqbY/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+23.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>WHEW!!!!! All done - nothing more to do and nowhere to go - I'm drinking this morning's coffee that I missed this morning as a warm over and just started the woodstove. Misadventures with the new car ate up yesterday and this morning as I visited the garage and had a new battery installed. Picked up my mail, went to the bank, the grocery store and picked up a couple of presents that had not been gotten because of the changeover from old to new car. It's turning cold and I really need the fire today, and will just spend the day picking up loose ends, eating chocolates and lazing about the house (that will be after I carry in some wood) scanning blogs, and wishing season's greetings to all my friends. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A darling Christmas Greeting postcard this morning shows a little boy and girl at their Christmas tree. They are dressed in the typical children's wear of the 20's and 30's and the scene is in an Art deco mood. Another found treasure!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My Christmas GIVEAWAY ends tomorrow night at midnight when I draw a name with the help of Random.org so get over to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>and good luck</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My friend Mich's giveaway runs until midnight on New Year's Eve so go to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>and leave a comment in order to have a chance to win his lovely prize.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Stay warm, stay safe and enjoy the fellowship of friends and family!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Warm best wishes</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-56841654249637996822010-12-22T14:53:00.001-04:002010-12-22T15:01:13.519-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 3 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpZFHWkC83lokvLLSVnQsRbWKrDJJ8YWW_9Njz0pZmHXQwFz7KFDzb6QzgWULk5v17Xsp4uKwrxSC_s1rvrlGpftsYYomvwNI2TN1jLP5Vh1rJj1ZUytNurmxnIl3GKTEXX-xdOJH16x9/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpZFHWkC83lokvLLSVnQsRbWKrDJJ8YWW_9Njz0pZmHXQwFz7KFDzb6QzgWULk5v17Xsp4uKwrxSC_s1rvrlGpftsYYomvwNI2TN1jLP5Vh1rJj1ZUytNurmxnIl3GKTEXX-xdOJH16x9/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+22.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I wish I could tell you which old European Master painted this lovely and devout Nativity scene. There was no credit line for it, so if anyone knows I'd love to know too. What is so lovely is that there are no rich robes and jewellry here and no kings or wisemen, just awestuck faces of country peasants, the rapt parents Joseph and Mary, and a few cherubim.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>It's going to be a green and damp and chilly Christmas in Nova Scotia this year I think, but on the up side after days of gale force winds coming from the direction which causes my stove to backdraft I've finally lit the fire and met with success rather than having to air out a cold house full of smoke!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Yeay!!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Now to remind you to get over there and enter my special Christmas giveaway to be drawn at midnight on Christmas Eve. Go to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong> <a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Your chances are still quite good to win a prize of your choice from one of five possibilities, and entry is open to anywhere in the world. Enter today - just become a follower and leave a comment.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My friend Mich's giveaway is on until Midnight on New Year's Eve and is a wonderfully illustrated book featuring the Huron Carol as depicted by a First Nations artist, a metis poet and sung on an accompanying cd by Inuit artist Susan Aglukark. A unique gift for you, especially if you are not yet familiar with Canadian First Nations Art. Read the article on Mich's blog - informative and inspiring!!! Head over to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Until tomorrow ~ my wish for you this evening:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>That you are warm, safe and well fed and that you take a pause to remember all your blessings, and to make sure that someone less fortunate has a few blessings to count too.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Warm hugs,</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-31423305841063396462010-12-21T09:16:00.000-04:002010-12-21T09:16:02.964-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 4 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAuni_IP7DQyh_tT4Wu2r4V3vTcXU_Z0HD5KWRGIPAXD07JPz_IGSxWeLSCM5HmWdMewYPGUJ29RQf6qVDkK44-mNJ_qu-yh5GS7c6Ey889_9oYi7xMpurWjKY7BTqi2-7UDNwhJMfkoo/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAuni_IP7DQyh_tT4Wu2r4V3vTcXU_Z0HD5KWRGIPAXD07JPz_IGSxWeLSCM5HmWdMewYPGUJ29RQf6qVDkK44-mNJ_qu-yh5GS7c6Ey889_9oYi7xMpurWjKY7BTqi2-7UDNwhJMfkoo/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Today is the winter solstice ~ a time when, before Christianity, the celts and druids celebrated light and fire and made merry to prevent the death of the sun, and to ensure that spring would return. It was natural as Christianity took hold in Europe and the British Isles, for the birth of Christ to be celebrated at a time when feasting and religious observance had always occurred.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Here today it is very windy, and it's rainy and my fire won't draw - all unpleasant, but not the end of the world; and I'm waiting for the water to boil for my cafetiere of morning coffee - always yummy! Things will look much better after I've had morning coffee.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>We have been watching the days growing shorter and shorter for the last few months, but after today we can watch them gradually getting longer and brighter again, and begin to watch for other signs too. Although January and February often carry with them brutal cold and storms, by the time February is over, spring is truly on the way.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I have reached the point in my daily blog reading where it seems just about everyone has a giveaway going on, but before you go looking at my suggestions, make sure you stop by and enter mine at:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-15T16%3A59%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-15T16%3A59%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7</a></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>All you have to do is leave a comment and make sure you become a follower and if your name is drawn you will win your choice of one of 5 prizes - all nice worthwhile items</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>AS well drop, over to my friend Mich's site and read about our unique Canadian Christmas Carol dating to 1643 and written in the Huron/Wendat language by a Jesuit priest who was later martyred in tribal warfare while serving his Huron congregation. You can sign up there for a chance to win a beautifully illustrated book and cd featuring the Carol. Go to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I will update here by adding giveaways from the blogs I am going to check out this morning ~ check back later!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Blessings of the season!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-41404245424836333792010-12-20T12:26:00.000-04:002010-12-20T12:26:46.535-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 5 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesDUREQNhhoy9BBmozrAflC43REW48EWN4Tj4fBFAr7Cs7NoO5fBCMjDaN2m1o7ynPpgK84Fd_OyXqlzXBSYTyXbWd5qzfleM5AanIhSqLeTGzdzTg67uyIrxtEOGbVyEl4iAZYkdYsgB/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesDUREQNhhoy9BBmozrAflC43REW48EWN4Tj4fBFAr7Cs7NoO5fBCMjDaN2m1o7ynPpgK84Fd_OyXqlzXBSYTyXbWd5qzfleM5AanIhSqLeTGzdzTg67uyIrxtEOGbVyEl4iAZYkdYsgB/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+20.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Greetings from chilly Nova Scotia</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Here's a Greeting Card of Father Christmas on his rounds a few days early!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>There is a feeling of anticipation in the air today and it has more to do with expecting snowfall than with Christmas. The wind has moved around to the Southeast, which always heralds wet weather here, and it is raw and damp. I went outside a few moments ago and you can almost feel the moisture in the air. I expect we will see a fine driving snow within the hour, so I'm putting off my plans to head to the Post Office for today and will hunker down near the stove and work instead. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I am working on the restoration of a fine silk crazy quilt dated 1928 and enjoying the challenge. Rather than removing the old pieces where the silk has shattered, I am appliquing over them with new silk pieces and then replicating the embroidery stitches, so that nothing is lost and it is all there if the owner wishes to return it to its original condition. Fortunately, the backing and binding are relatively whole so I have a good framework to work within. This is a family heirloom and rather than covering the shattered silk with organza as would be done in a museum collection, so that the original work can still be seen although protected, the owner and I opted for covering the old with new work to enhance display of the textile at family gatherings.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I want to thank all the people who have responded to my giveaway and become followers. After Christmas I want to consult with you all to see what direction my posts will take in the New Year. Meanwhile, if you haven't yet entered my Christmas GIVEAWAY, go to </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-15T16%3A59%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-15T16%3A59%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I have made sure that I have enough choices in the prize so that everyone's tastes are met - and what nicer surprise on Christmas morning when you check my blog to find that after all your family's presents are opened, you will still have a nice one on it's way to you?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I've found another site that is having a marvelous quilty giveaway:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Aren't those Lecien fabrics fabulous? Two full sets of 20 fat quarters are up for grabs - make sure you go to:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv2OehQzysPf1fOzt9YXenk-XP47QWQMxp8pbDlhRbstxzby8jcirpp8KV9dWpe3mTMb1I5irZRKZ-xrwk40_oo5FRriEAyRiW4QsIGKMUshtdj9FnKY_PWJIgg5rPJftW1WaLKiOoO9S/s1600/fabric+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv2OehQzysPf1fOzt9YXenk-XP47QWQMxp8pbDlhRbstxzby8jcirpp8KV9dWpe3mTMb1I5irZRKZ-xrwk40_oo5FRriEAyRiW4QsIGKMUshtdj9FnKY_PWJIgg5rPJftW1WaLKiOoO9S/s1600/fabric+giveaway.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html">http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I hope I win!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>And finally, my friend Mich in Victoria, British Columbia is celebrating his first giveaway ~ Mich deals in First Nations Canadian art and has some of the nicest pieces I've seen. As a special Christmas post he has outlined with great research and images the story of Canada's own distinctive Christmas song ~ the Huron Carol or Jesous Ahatonhia - go have a look - and while you're there, enter the draw which is for a book and cd of the carol, sung by Susan Aglukark in Inuktitut, the language of Canada'a Inuit people.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Go to: <a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>That's it for today - Christmas Blessings and stay safe and warm!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Love and hugs! Janet</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-36334149071478909302010-12-19T17:36:00.002-04:002010-12-19T17:39:09.050-04:00AS PROMISED EARLIER TODAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8IvWuEOsbv8rIR6eNdvr19umi3BRpVk1lo25MkRjunXYtkJ36mPUfbTazFdWVe9U2BwIX4pPoqaU70vYDnxbv8h01Qu6YhunMojRlO1E0hABRos4bH7xRqWqazKouTZzbBX9tiJaC_-/s1600/huron+carol+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8IvWuEOsbv8rIR6eNdvr19umi3BRpVk1lo25MkRjunXYtkJ36mPUfbTazFdWVe9U2BwIX4pPoqaU70vYDnxbv8h01Qu6YhunMojRlO1E0hABRos4bH7xRqWqazKouTZzbBX9tiJaC_-/s320/huron+carol+2.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><strong>Hi folks - the post I promised earlier is up now and is a fabulous read as well as having a very nice GIVEAWAY attached: </strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/">http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/the-huron-carol-a-special-christmas-feature/</a></strong><br />
<strong>Mich is an art dealer who specialises in Canadian First Nations art. He has many lovely pieces of art and is continually searching for new and exciting acquisitions for his clients. He is quickly developing a following with his weekly blog posts and has decided to share the Christmas spirit with you via this GIVEAWAY. It is open now and will run until midnight December 31, 2010. Good luck - I hope you win, and please check back with me again tomorrow as I continue with my Countdown to Christmas.</strong><br />
<strong>Bye for now.</strong><br />
<strong>Janet</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-29649521467588166972010-12-19T10:42:00.000-04:002010-12-19T10:42:41.284-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 6 days left<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuC6p8Y8byQzFiUaJZd_qbCyYy0YAxVqQMtgR8wZVYg8pRKIk7ZzDkMN6ugvWrK6JDrzKlC3rd8KHHPRikSmZF_qPPW4z01BcTrtih8z46olrnNWp2BLl9UTz7egiMoWteuWJnNkUG0x6/s1600/Christmas+greetings+dec+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuC6p8Y8byQzFiUaJZd_qbCyYy0YAxVqQMtgR8wZVYg8pRKIk7ZzDkMN6ugvWrK6JDrzKlC3rd8KHHPRikSmZF_qPPW4z01BcTrtih8z46olrnNWp2BLl9UTz7egiMoWteuWJnNkUG0x6/s320/Christmas+greetings+dec+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A quiet pause for the last Sunday in advent, before everyone launches into all the last minute things that need doing!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My greeting card this morning encourages quiet reflection - a beautiful sunny day in a wintry landscape that is much like what I see through my window as in one direction I look across the road to a small piece of woods with a brook running through it, and in the back I look across a large snow-covered field to a line of trees that encircles my house in the three other directions. It is quiet and very calm today - shortly there will be a tiny rush of traffic as the small rural church finishes its service and then it will be quiet again.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I've found you folks another nice GIVEAWAY that will not be announced until later this evening at which time I'll post the link for you to go enter and to also enjoy the interesting post that will go with it. So check back later. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>And meanwhile make sure you enter my christmas GIVEAWAY at:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong> make sure you check back here and pick up the link to enter that other great giveaway later tonight.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Meanwhile enjoy this lovely day!</strong></div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-74911045227329248392010-12-18T09:00:00.001-04:002010-12-18T09:14:48.474-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 7 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgyPs3YXjllG556wUPc_RRFoO3VOND4_sDoKMKHY_Ad1IhOjEp-I8ipLCHYCAeDWftRE-1XJf7mZL98iaJglLfcw9z-IgSuIuEOCkqktrMJ74LzEHqT0gnS1fzz_YMLt4jQ0olRf2gKUh/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgyPs3YXjllG556wUPc_RRFoO3VOND4_sDoKMKHY_Ad1IhOjEp-I8ipLCHYCAeDWftRE-1XJf7mZL98iaJglLfcw9z-IgSuIuEOCkqktrMJ74LzEHqT0gnS1fzz_YMLt4jQ0olRf2gKUh/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+18.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><strong>More Christmas Greetings going out to you today. Do you realize this is the last Saturday before Christmas? I was going to make a quick run into town today, but I think I can wait for that pleasure - lol - possibly tomorrow around noon will be less crowded and I can get things done more quickly.</strong><br />
<strong>It's another lovely but cool day; the sun is shining and there is no wind. I'm waiting for my coffee water to boil while typing this. There's nothing like the simple pleasure of slightly sweetened black freshly ground pressed coffee made with well water. </strong><br />
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<strong>Today's seasonal postcard reflects simple values of early American self reliance, family and old-fashioned virtues. Interestingly enough this card is from the Post World War One era when the economy was flagging, and for the first time there were more people in cities than there were on the family farms. Poverty and disenfranchisement were endemic both in the country and the city as people became dependent on a wage rather than the land to sustain them. Life was more likely being led in a cold water flat or a decaying and rudimentary rural dwelling than the idealized light filled cottage depicted here. </strong><br />
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<strong>I think the values reflected in this card have come to the forefront of people's minds again these days and we are reading of people on small holdings and in the cities trying hard to cut down on consumerism and lead a simpler life with simpler pleasures. I'll certainly support that and wish I were young enough to supply more of my own needs. But I have joined a wool CSA and try to buy my food organic and local as much as possible.</strong><br />
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<strong>Most of my readers are people with similar values who enjoy needlecrafts, flea market decorating and so on, so my Christmas GIVEAWAY will be attractive to them - as the prize you will have your choice from among 5 options ` 4 of which are needlecrafts related and the fifth a lovely hand embroidered table runner from my sister site <a href="http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/">http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/</a></strong><br />
<strong>To enter, just go to <a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a>, become a follower and you're in! There are ways to improve your chances of winning, so be sure you check those out too!</strong><br />
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<strong>I'll be talking to you again tomorrow when I bring you another of my vintage greeting postcards. Until then ~ hugs from Janet!!!</strong><br />
<strong>And let's hope the weather holds.</strong>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-77311087391303218282010-12-17T14:02:00.000-04:002010-12-17T14:02:14.448-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 8 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALn7q_hSTuIPVLZsq6rsa3z_dJmgtaVt-KO7Mgdnwc0yKe_pLTL4BwhqqXIJ2-Y2OiKCQMf3eYSG6VYPjczfJ2cxNH0NIMuTCV_ht0EqcCDps-T-8cXQ4WNovLKctja3V_bOw5F-9lEP/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNALn7q_hSTuIPVLZsq6rsa3z_dJmgtaVt-KO7Mgdnwc0yKe_pLTL4BwhqqXIJ2-Y2OiKCQMf3eYSG6VYPjczfJ2cxNH0NIMuTCV_ht0EqcCDps-T-8cXQ4WNovLKctja3V_bOw5F-9lEP/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Greetings from a cold and snowy rural Nova Scotia. Don't you just love the sweet little boy and girl with their decorated Christmas tree and their darling pup romping in the snow. The little boy is a bit like an elf or a Kris Kringle with his red stocking cap, belt and leggings and his black boots. The little girl whose hand he is holding is dressed in warm rose jacket with furry collar and a paler rose long full skirt. They epitomize the sweet romantic childhood images drawn by Lucy Mabel Atwell. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Today is peaceful and quiet and I'm getting back into my gentle pre-Christmas routines with power finally restored, which on a well means hot and cold running water is back - yeah! Laundry and dishes and a general scrub up has been done.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Yesterday I got all my junk out of the old car, made my final run down to the garage without incident and picked up my nice new-to-me Dodge 2002 Caravan! It handles beautifully and I enjoy again being up nice and high and surveying traffic. I drove only trucks and vans until a few years back when I started buying small cars because they were easier to find, and I'm looking forward to having a bit of load capacity again so that if I want a bale of peat moss or a couple of sacks of kindling I don't have to worry about getting it home. It's all good!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Have you entered my Christmas GIVEAWAY yet?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>If not, go to <a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a> </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>and enter right now - the choice of prizes is too good to miss. I've also been checking to find other giveaways for you to enter and will list any new ones I find today in my Saturday post.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Time to go carry in more wood and then get supper going ~ hard to decide between a homemade soup and a lazy gal's grilled smoked meat and cheese sandwich ~ decisions, decisions!!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Warm hugs! We'll talk again tomorrow</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-18733145120211631552010-12-16T11:18:00.000-04:002010-12-16T11:18:08.504-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 9 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfpsS9bZbGi2DATs2vPYMdhyphenhyphenX7ccvpcRjGJoyHEP63f9X5O_eer3eW4_4erh22oyn_P9bXXarkqGGSssKNjpbBj6zv0PBw06xLi848YS8I5q-mve40uYiT7M6d6xcb3KT1RWQDVTeGAk9/s1600/Xmas+Greetings+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfpsS9bZbGi2DATs2vPYMdhyphenhyphenX7ccvpcRjGJoyHEP63f9X5O_eer3eW4_4erh22oyn_P9bXXarkqGGSssKNjpbBj6zv0PBw06xLi848YS8I5q-mve40uYiT7M6d6xcb3KT1RWQDVTeGAk9/s320/Xmas+Greetings+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Doesn't this fashionable looking shopper look like she has everything under control?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>And all the elements of a 1920's celebration are there - snow, nostalgia, a cosy cottage up on the hillside and a lovely young woman. </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>In my area we are coming out of a two day power outage which put a lot of plans for shopping and other Christmas preparations on hold. I have a list as long as my arm of things I need to pick up and errands I need to run in the next few days!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I have now reached my 40th follower and am pleased to see the number of entrants in my <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Christmas </span><span style="color: black;">GIVEAWAY rising day by day. You still have plenty of time to enter and to get your friends to enter too, so go to </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a> and enter today. Yesterday I ran across another charming giveaway at <a href="http://rookeryramblings.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-giveaway.html">http://rookeryramblings.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-giveaway.html</a> this is the blogsite for the Tasha Tudor and Family Inc firm and they are offering six lovely pink lustre teacups so although there are a lot of entries, your chances are good to win one of them. What a lovely way to enjoy your daily cup of tea - check out the picture! Then go and enter, leaving your comjment including which you'd choose and your email address. You can also enter directly by sending an email message. Good Luck!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzMl5nVnNsLY69x4WT0QMpkNS4UwDBBKcCe7nDYCdDxWLeXgGo3SED-z15NAaOPXNlUG5pFww58XbVLPsEig_fZVDDxPLwUUFdihqLIo2dp_GFMtejXoTlI6iPbt11zGHH6WRJ5DVVthX/s1600/rookery+ramblings+giveawaydec1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzMl5nVnNsLY69x4WT0QMpkNS4UwDBBKcCe7nDYCdDxWLeXgGo3SED-z15NAaOPXNlUG5pFww58XbVLPsEig_fZVDDxPLwUUFdihqLIo2dp_GFMtejXoTlI6iPbt11zGHH6WRJ5DVVthX/s320/rookery+ramblings+giveawaydec1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>There are lots of lovely things and ideas to look over and a lovely nostalgic feeling to the posts on the blog. Lots of pictures of sweet babies and adorable animals so what's not to love?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>This giveaway is open to all residents of the United States and Canada so get over there and enter!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Will be back tomorrow with Countdown to Christmas! See you then.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Love and warm hugs from Janet!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381652420103818344.post-73112264561341284352010-12-15T17:12:00.000-04:002010-12-15T17:12:55.256-04:00COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 10 days left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvtY6MFXpP9y70s4HLygyFXq8hQI_z4fX9nnRh-BDpFlDtG3I2D9-SLblU13mwPwDHu1oU0mElm4W9S4nhCYgF8DW-wZalogZxwYKAA3_YKfznb9fmgHdA4l3HeLg9FLBwwRhWL7HV7IY/s1600/Christmas+Greetings+dec+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvtY6MFXpP9y70s4HLygyFXq8hQI_z4fX9nnRh-BDpFlDtG3I2D9-SLblU13mwPwDHu1oU0mElm4W9S4nhCYgF8DW-wZalogZxwYKAA3_YKfznb9fmgHdA4l3HeLg9FLBwwRhWL7HV7IY/s320/Christmas+Greetings+dec+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Birds and holly leaves against a wintry background have always been a popular image for Christmas Greetings. Bluebirds especially have been popular and show up on imagery in music, embroidery, paintings and cards in both North America and the United Kingdom. These ones are especially attractive.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Now that the power is back on, my house is warming up and a cooked meal is going to be ready soon. We all were very lucky in this region there were no major fires, damage, flooding or extreme cold and that power was restored fairly quickly.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>If you haven't yet entered my Christmas GIVEAWAY go to </strong><a href="http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html">http://quiltingwithjanet.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-giveaway.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>and do so - all you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment. If you win, you have a choice of 5 gifts from which to choose. Lots of luck - I'm looking forward to hearing from you!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Big hugs and hoping you're almost ready for Christmas and that you are home warm and safe!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Janet</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17643680000059427128noreply@blogger.com0