A Couple of Surprises..

Surprise #1

 

 The new entrance is coming together....

 

Thank goodness for Ikea...

 



 

Piece by piece....

 

it is starting to look like a very useful closet...

 

And now....a fully functional entrance!!!

 

A couple of handles and some trim and we are set!!

Surprise #2......

 

was my Valdani Embroidery thread that came in the mail

 

It is nice to have such a quality product that is a Canadian Company

 

These snowflakes are looking very pretty

 

Surprise #3.....

 

One day while surfing Kijiji,

(I really have to stop doing that...)

 

 there was a little old singer for sale in Lethbridge....

 

I asked the man if he still had it.

 

 He said he did and gave me his name...

 

A little tingle inside of me thought I should know him

 

but

 

 I could not place it....

 

After a few emails, I realized he was one of my teachers in 1982!!!

 

Small world.....

 

This is a Singer 99-13 which is a 3/4 model of a Singer 66.



 

It's in great shape and lights up but the Bakeolite Knee control is missing....

(goes in the little hole on the bottom right hand corner)

 

So the hunt(or manufacturing) of this control is on!!

 

The serial number says it is a 1927 model with a Bentwood case...

 

 made in Maltepe Turkey

 

 

What a good week of surprises!!

 

Tomorrow is our Guild's Christmas Lunch and Exchange...

 

Mooooore surprises!!

 

Christa

A Christmas Stocking for Jaxon

I purchased this book at Sew and Sews in Carlyle last week...

 

 

I have looked at it every time I go there!!

 

I needed to make a stocking for Jaxon, our first grandson....

 

The possibilities are endless with this book

 

but

 

I finally narrowed it down to a couple of ideas....

 

I started with Rudolf.....

 

 

This Sulky stabilizer is great for machine stitching applique....

 

 

I also use old downy sheets where I don't have to do so much stitching...

 

 

After stitching all the applique on, I added a little light for his nose....

 

 

 

and some jingles to the cuff.....

 

 

 

 I think it turned out pretty cute....

 

 

Now for his name.....

 

a fabric fusion pen....a little quilting foam...some free hand stitching....

 

 

and it was hung with care...

 

I decided to give a tea towel a little Christmas Spirit while I was at it....

 

 

 

How cute is this little snowman!!!

 

 

Enough play... Time to feed cows!!

 

It warmed up 3 degrees...

 

Only -28C with a SLIGHT breeze making it feel like.....Siberia!!!

 

I'll be looking like this snowman by the time I am done layering up!!

Christa

 



Holy Deep Freeze!!

 

Have you ever seen a FULL sundog??

 

Just when you think it can't possibly get colder...

 

It is -40C with the windchill...Yikes!!!

 



 

It's a beautiful sight but you know it's cold when you see that!!

 

 

 I ventured to Carlyle and Arcola, Sask. to pick up my hired man...

 

The quad...

 

After a brief stay at the Artic Cat Hospital, he's all good to go again!!

 

My quad is my hired hand, pulling augers, winching things into place, chasing cows, carrying heavy loads.

 

 It worked as hard as I did this summer!

 

He deserved a rest!

 

I have tried to visit this store quite a few times

 

 but

 

 it is always closed when I come through...

 

 

Probably a good thing!!

 

That is where my treadle sewing machine came from...

 

 

 

So it's just a tease through the window today!

 

The buildings in Arcola have such history...

 

 

 

I am not sure what this building was originally but now it's 'Buddy's Bar'...

 

I can envision the horse and buggies backed up at the unloading dock...

 

Buildings were constructed with such character back then....

 

Wouldn't this little building be a great quilt store??

 

Talking about quilting....

It is Scrap Squad Friday hosted by Rebecca Ball with her version of Star Search

 

 

Original Version of Star Search

 

 calls 'Kaffe is Star Struck'

 

 

 

Be sure to hop on over to Quiltmaker's Blog

 to

learn more about her process in making this quilt.

 

I love how Rebecca has echoed the circular pattern from the border onto the stars!

 

Stay warm...

 

It can't get colder....

 

Can it?!!?!

 

Christa

 

 

 



Apple Patch Snowman

In keeping the Christmas Spirit, I decided to give this pattern a try...

 

 

It was a kit so it was easy and mindless....

 

which we all need every now and again....

 

I haven't decided if I should add his coal mouth....

I used Suzie's Magic Binding Technique to finish this little man...

 

 

He is packing...with a couple of candy canes...

Do you think he needs a smile??

 

I even snuck in a little selvage in the hanging sleeve....

 

So he has options to be a runner man or a wall hanging!!

 

I also started working on the Quilt-along with Temecula Quilt Company

 

 

 

 using Stonehenge's Moonrise Starry Night FQ pack.....

 

 

But I think these will go very well with my Crabapple Hills Snowflakes 

 

 

Blues and Silvers....

 

So I am using them in a different direction.....

 

 

These stars are adorable at only 2.5 inches each!!

 

Off to hibernate in my sewing room with temps at -20C!!

 

Christa