The Night Before Chrismouse

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‘Twas the night before Chrismouse and all through the place not a critter was stirring….welllll, that’s not exactly the case.

See, some mice got wind of some cookies’d been made. Said one “There’s some big cats! and I’m sore afraid!”

“Pshaw” said another “we’ll ply them with catnip and give ’em some milk, ‘n sardines, stuff of that ilk.
Then, when they’re sleeping we’ll all just sneak in, Scoop up the platters and empty the tin.
Say, wasn’t there also some cheese in that place?
Now there’s a feast to stuff in your face!”

So off they did scamper to carry out their plan. And guess what. It worked!

And after enjoying their feast, they sang to us all:

Baking

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… was the only creative thing done around here Tuesday night. Ten dozen cookies were baked. Six dozen gingersnaps and 4 dozen chocolate crinkles. I had made the enormous macaroons the day before. That’s it for me except for another 3 dozen butter tarts, but those I’ll make Christmas Eve so that they’re fresh for dessert on Christmas Day.


To keep this somewhat quilt related, the fabric on which the plate is sitting is the red fabric which I will use when I start my red and white quilt. I still don’t know what design that will be, nor do I have a white but that is definitely the red. Once Pink Ice is finished, I’ll have 2 of the series of two-colour quilts done. The red and white will be next. A green and white will be after that and then a yellow and white.

Smudge relaxing:


And Lester back in his favourite spot on the windowsill.


A Little More Progress on Teddy Bear Quilt

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Seven more blocks to put together and the 16 blocks for this little quilt will be done. With any luck, I might get the top finished this year.

A surprise package arrived in the mail on Monday. I’m trying to be good and not opening it until Christmas. Whether I have that kind of self-control is a whole other story!

A new favourite shot of Lester:

Smudge:

Lots of Blocks

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All the little Drunkard’s Path units in Rouenneries are done now. This stack is about 80 of them. They are so much fun to stitch that I just can’t stop.


This is the arrangement I think I’m going to use. If I do, each of these 4-unit blocks will finish at 6″.


I did some baking on the weekend — and the special teddy bear assistant baker was overseeing. Chocolate crinkles, some macaroons and, of course, butter tarts were made. Almost all that I baked has been given to friends and neighbours now. I love baking and, as we have lots of neighbours and friends to whom we can give baked goods, I’ve got more planned for this week.

One thing I’ll be looking for at the Boxing Day sales will be a cookie press.

Smudge is now doing some serious training for the lounging competition. This picture almost qualifies for inclusion in the “where’s the cat’s head” category.


Lester looks like he’s getting ready to be a judge.


Olympic Torch in Toronto

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Thursday night the Olympic Torch relay passed very close to where we live, so off we went to watch it go by. It was a damp chilly night, typical of Toronto at this time of year, and the wait was longer than expected. But it was well worth the wait.

The dog you see at the beginning is named Buddy. At times, he was practically leaning against my legs which was very welcome as he was quite warm and it was pretty chilly standing there!

There were lots of Toronto police in cars and on bikes:


The torch bearer. It was really quite a thrill to see that flame going past.


After the torch had passed by, we decided to pick up a take-away for dinner from an Indian restaurant that’s nearby. We needed those lovely hot spices to warm us up after standing outside in the cold night air!

The teddy bears and other assorted critters are getting ready for the “Teddy Bear Olympics”, which will coincide with the Winter Olympics. Their torch bearer was, as is only fitting, a moose:


There was quite a crowd out to cheer on the moose:


Including one of the athletes — a downhill skier.

Smudge’s sport? Lounging. We think there has to be a lounging medal.

Although Lester may give him a real run for his money!


Drunkard’s Path in Rouenneries

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A couple of charm packs of Rouenneries and I was off to the races, printing each charm with both shapes for one unit of a Drunkard’s Path block using the Inklingo collection for a 12″ Drunkard’s Path block. Here are all my pieces, ready to stitch.

With the perfect matching points and stitching lines, it’s so easy to stitch these curves! Before I start stitching, I clip into the seam allowance on the concave curve to just a few threads above the stitching line.


I pin my first matching point:

I start with my quilter’s knot a little bit in from the end of the seam and then backstitch to the matching mark right at the seam beginning. That way I don’t have a knot in my way later when joining the unit to another.

I start stitching. When stitching curves, I take the smallest stitches I can:

I load the needle with as many stitches as possible and pull it through, then take a little backstitch:

And continue on to the end of the seam, where I again make my knot a little bit away from the end of the seam.

This isn’t pressed yet:

And this is after finger-pressing:


Each unit finishes at 3″. On top of this unit are the scissors I use to clip the seam allowance and, for that matter, cutting out the shapes. These are the sharpest scissors I’ve ever found. They’re Omnigrid scissors.

The units I’ve stitched so far. I haven’t decided on a layout yet. Once they’re all stitched, I’ll decide.

Smudge really isn’t very interested in all this stitching. He’d rather snooze.

While Lester is still spending some time on the windowsill, although it’s getting a bit chillier every day.


Another 10 Blocks

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… are ready to put together. I stitched the tumbler/triangle units together so now it’s a matter of joining them with the squares into the final 10 blocks.


Then I’ll add them to these 6 blocks and the little teddy bear quilt top will be done.


A very contemplative Lester:

And a classic Smudge pose. He likes to wedge himself between one of us and the arm of the couch and stretch out like this.


Pink Ice Block #21

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… is finished. Nine to go!! This is the palest of the pinks I’ve used for the blocks. The colour doesn’t quite show up accurately in this picture. It’s more pink than the peach that it appears in this.


The back:Our weather has been really topsy-turvy. Extremely cold and then mild enough to rain. I can’t believe how close we are to Christmas!! It finally got me motivated to get baking supplies to ensure that I have on hand what I’ll need.

Smudge curled up with a teddy:


And Lester snoozing in his kitty bed.


Pink Ice Block #20

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… is done. There are four more blocks for which I have the pink diamonds ready so now it is just a matter of printing enough diamonds on 6 other pink fabrics and a few more of the triangles and squares on white and I’ll have everything to finish the remaining 10 blocks.


The back:


It was rather cold and very windy here on Thursday, so the kitties were curled up in cozy warm spots. This picture of Smudge is one of my favourites — but I think I say that about almost all of them.


And I love this shot of Lester. He’s so alert in this!