Long Time No Post .... Happy Belated Canadian Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I'm sorry this is a late one as I've been so busy studying, working and preparing for the Canadian Thanksgiving.  This year it was a big one since we had friends over on Sunday and Monday as well as meeting my brother's, Jason, new girlfriend so it was a big weekend. Between entertaining, cleaning, cooking and trying to relax in between.


I had baked Raspberry and White chocolate muffins, Coconut Macaroons, Apple Pie and made some Cranberry and Rosemary jelly (which was so easy to do). I love making and eating homemade things. And I have recently got into preserves so I am a busy lady these days. Once I get time I will post my Cranberry and Rosemary Jelly for you all to try (if you want too, that is).

 

I will try to post more in the coming days, hopefully not as long as before.

Georgina x

Greetings from Canada!!!

I am now finally settled in a bit at my mum's house in Toronto. It has been lovely spenting time with my mum and brother again (even though the last time I seen was only 5 months ago). Working with the children has been good but tiring so, I am finding it hard to study at night, fit in reading as well as keep my fairly new blog in check. While I was on the airplane and waiting at Gatwick for my connecting flight to Toronto I read half of the book called The Man Who disappeared. It has been a good read so far and am looking forward to spending time reading it. 



My brother, Jason's 30th birthday is on Saturday so, we are having a small family dinner with cake of course and then Jason, his new girlfriend of 2 weeks who is called Mel (it will be the first time I meet her), his good friend Rob and myself are going to the Air Canada Centre to see the Toronto Maple Leafs VS Detriot Red Wings. It should be a really good game to watch and I haven't seen a hockey game live in probably 10 years easy. Also, as a treat to my mum, on Saturday afternoon we are spending some quality time together getting a aromatherapy massage, pedicures and manicures. Since Saturday will be a busy day, I will be studying super hard on Sunday. I don't want to fall behind when I've only started studying again. 

I also need to squeeze in some sock knitting time for my Neil.

I miss so many things already about Scotland and my flat and it's only been a week. I hope it won't be like this for the next few months. However, I am looking forward to Canadian Thanksgiving which is coming up soon.


Does anyone have nice men's sock patterns that are quite easy and fast? If so, I'd love for you to share them.

Georgina x

Oh Canada!

Okay everyone, I have some news. I am going to Canada for a few months but I will still post on my blog however, I will not be working on my quilt when I'm away since it'll be too much stuff to take with me and I'll be busy with help my mum babysit some kids and studying AND I also promised Neil I would finish his toe socks, Which I WILL do.

Here is a few things I enjoy about Canada.....

Maple Leaves on the ground

Maple Syrup

Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Team

Tim Hortons Coffee and Donuts

Walking along the board walk of Toronto Beach

Georgina x

Lap Quilt - Starting to come together now

Good day to you all! I hope your day is going well. I have woke up to a rainy day but it's no biggie, because it's now actually sunny out but a little windy too.

My Triangle Lap Quilt with Panels

As you can see, I have started putting my quilt together. I think for my first quilt it is going well. I still have only used maybe half a metre of each fabric but that's including the triangles that are not put together in this picture yet. I will hopefully find sometime today to add to my quilt but I really want to go to the quilt shop. How do you stop this urge? Fabric and Hasberdasery shops are like cocaine to me these days. Is everyone else addicted to these shops like me?

Okay back to my lap quilt.... The cream triangles at the side will be cut down the middle to square it off and this would be near my edging. I will do another 3 panels of triangles top and bottom and this should be big enough for a lap quilt. Once it's done and put together I will go get some embroidery thread and see if I can embroider a wee message for my gran. I think she'll LOVE it! Well, I hope so cause I love it!


How do you think It's coming along? Do you like the colours or pattern? Any suggestions?


I think it's coming along good considering I'm designing one panel at a time. Quilting is fun!

Georgina x

Sewing, Sewing, Sewing ...

This is the first part of my lap quilt. I have been working on it for most of the day, but I am enjoying the challenge of putting it together and finding solutions to fixing certain parts or gaps. I am actually going to Northrn Ireland next week to visit my 90 year old grandparents and I was thinking about trying to finish it before I go, which may be a challenge but I'd like to give it to my grandmother something to keep her warm and I know her mother used to do alot of crafty things so she will appreciate it. If I can embroider it I will with the message, "Wrap yourself in love". 

Hopefully, tomorrow I will get another two rows sewn in. I can't wait to get this project all sewn in and photographed, I'm a little impatient but it's just because I'm sooooooooooo excited!!! 
Do you ever get excited about finishing a quilt? Do you have any quilting tips? I am actually trying to find out whether I should put batting in my lap quilt. What do you think? 

Georgina x

Cut Cut Cut. ... Cut It Out

I have spent around 3 hours cutting and cutting and cutting my lovely fabrics into triangles. And I haven't even made a dent in the amount of fabric I have. After cutting so much, my hands started shouting OUUUUUUUCH!!! With them shouting how much pain their in I decided to arrange them into patterns. I know I don't want the complete quilt to be back to back triangles so may be if I do features of my triangles into hexagons and being off set. As well as some rectangles or squares. I'm not really sure yet but hopefully winging it will be a good thing. It's a good thing I am only cutting so many shapes at a time. Looking at other quilts are good to get a good idea what you are looking for or like best, especially if your a visual person.

Tomorrow, I will arrange them again and cut a few rectangles and squares to see what fits better.

Georgina x

Reading and Sewing, well not sewing but cutting fabrics

I have now started to read another book called The Man Who Disappeared by Clare Morrall. It is a recommended summer read by the TV Book Club so, I decided that I would pick it up. 

The Man Who Disappeared by Clare Morrall is about a man, Felix, who vanishes without telling anyone and leaves his wife, Kate, and children. Kate found out that he is suspected guilty of a criminal offence, does she really know the man she loved? As she faces the possibility that he might not return, she realises her own strength to keep going. But will her husband return to face the truth?

Once I finish this read I will post my review and tell you what book is next. Do you know a really good read if so, please feel free to share :) 

The Bailey Collection Fabrics

This morning, I went to Hobby Craft in Glasgow to "look" at fabric since my local charity shop had no nice fabrics that I could recycle. And YES, I did buy some lovely fabric which was apart of The Baileys Collection. I started to cut out the triangles for my quilt when I got back and I will continue doing it for a few hours tomorrow and then hopefully get onto knitting. I think the quilt is going to have triangles and rectangle strips . I will post pictures of my lay out on Thursday or Friday. I am hoping to get sewing by Friday. I'm way too excited since it's going to be my first quilt, I might even add a few embroidery pieces to it :) What do you think of the colours I have choosen?

The start of my quilt cutting

Georgina x