Welcome

Hi everyone, glad you could visit me.
marlaruthnelson@gmail.com

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. It turned out better than I thought it would with the heavy rain that we were getting all day. This is the warmest Halloween that we have had in years if ever.

My two grandchildren, Sara and James out trick or treating at a friends House. They love to decorate for the season.



Sunday 28 October 2012

Sunday Projects

Well I am quite happy with what I accomplished this Sunday afternoon. It was a wet day so a great day to spend in the sewing room. I got two Christmas presents put togeather. I just have to machine quilt them.


 
Its funny when you put material togeather what you come up with. They almost look like dart boards.
But my mother and daughter in law will like them. Other than buying for the grandkids for Christmas I am doing quite well. I have one Christmas quilt done for one daughter in law and the other Christmas quilt is in the quilt frame. It is three quarters done. Hope to have it out this week. Than I have one more quilt to do before Christmas. Hope to have it in by next weekend. I also hope to have my tree skirt machine quilted this week also. Sounds like a busy week.
 
 

Friday 26 October 2012

Well I got brave and did my first bigger piece of Free Motion Quilting. I was quite happy with it. I come to the conclusion that even in practise you have to use your good thread. I used bobbin thread and it flowed nice during practise. My pieces I used machine quilting thread and it went really well.

 
 
I did a little experiment, the first one I did with no batting in the middle and the second one had batting. After doing the two the second one moved better but after they were done I like the first one better. For a runner things will sit on it better. So I guess it would be what everyone would like better.
This pattern is a "This and That" called "Box of Chocolates" by Sherri K.Falls. A very nice pattern and easy to do. When you finished cutting and putting togeater you end up with two as you can see above. You also need a 60 degree angle ruler. A nice fun project to do.

Thursday 25 October 2012

A Win

I had a win today, not a blog win but a Tops win. I was the best looser this month with 5 3/4 lbs. Now am back to my goal weight. This is what I won:


A nice homemade bag. It is a lovely size and will come in handy. I also won the contest for the month and received $25.00. A productive day. 

I also finished a Christmas present today. I know it's a Halloween picture but the person I am giving it to loves Halloween.

 
Now just need to frame it. Will have to look in my stach of frames and see if I have  something that works. If not to the framing shop next week.


Tuesday 23 October 2012

I found these quilt blocks in my stash and thought they would be good to practise machine quilting. I still am not brave enough to try on something good yet. Here it is.



 
At the bottom corner I didn't start out that well but once I got going it did go. It's harder following lines that actually machine quilting. I have three more of these to practise on. Tonight I will try a different design.

Monday 22 October 2012


My two grandchildren. This is Lauren and Owen. We were just down to the beach for a walk. What a beautiful day. The waves were quite high.

Retreat and Give Away



Sew South is having a retreat. Check here to find out if this retreat is in your area and she is giving away a bundle of fabric for spreading the word.

Sunday 21 October 2012

A Winter Wonderland Give Away

There is a grest give away at this following sight. Check it out.

Give Away 
 
There is over 24 give aways. They are all beautiful

Saturday 20 October 2012

My first mug rug


My first mug rug. I never heard of them until I started bogging.  could not waist a drop of this beautiful material that I bought for my Christmas tree skirt as the price was to high. I cut it right down to 1 1/2 inches. The piece in the little red frame was to close in colour to stand out. It was supposed to be a pin wheel. I Should of put the little people in there.


This is my first attempt at machine quilting. I only broke one needle. I might be able to get the hang of it. My friends Marjorie, Connie and Rose took a class on Thursday. I think I learned a little.  Rose had a great time. This was her first attempt  at machine quilting. She just started sewing last year and she is having a great time with it.


Pumpkin Pancakes



My favourite new breakfast. Pumpkin pancakes. These are delicious and easy to make. Here is the recipe.

2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup pure pumpkin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla

Beat all together and pour into hot pan with 1 tsp butter or coconut oil.
I like to cover with lid to help them cook. It makes two nice size pancakes. They raise nice and what is so nice about these pancakes "no flour". They turn out every time. Top with your favourite toppings and they taste good also with just pure maple syrup.
My son is on this diet with no wheat and no sugar. He has lost over 20 lbs and his wife has lost 12lbs. She is small to begin with so that is a big loss for her. I have ate these the last two weeks and am back to my goal weight again. Summer is hard on my weight.

Marjorie brought me four quilts blocks from the church group  that is making a quilt for the minister and his wife. They are making a dresden plate quilt..

 
It will be nice and colourful. Appliqueing is not one of my favorite things to do but here they are done. I plan on spending the afternoon in the sewing room as it is a wet day and then my two grandchildren are coming for the night.
 
 



 
 
This is Sara and James. I was really blessed with great grandchildren. Well everyone have a great day and be sure to try those pancakes.

Monday 15 October 2012

Vintage Quilt Along

Today is the day to link up with our Vintage Quilt Along so I will be posting my quilt again. If you want to see others just go see Heidi at the Fabric Mutt and see all the beautiful quilts.


 
Last week was such a busy week that I didn't get to much done in the sewing room. I was to a fall rally last Saturday for our Tops group and the guess speakers topic was called "The Power of No" . She was so funny and her topic was so true. We need to start thinking of thinks we want to do and say no to the things we don't want to do.
 
I have my grandson Owen for the next two days but with him I do get caught up on my housework so I will have it done for the days that I have to myself and guess what I will be heading to the sewing room. I will get there a little today as my friend Connie will be coming up. We are working on tree skirts.
 
 
This is my grandson Owen. He is quite the case, always making you laugh. Well have a good week and hopefully I will have something to post at the end of the week.
 


Friday 12 October 2012

A day in the rain

I have finally fixed the no reply blogger on my page. I have been sitting here for over two hours trying to find the right page. I finally found it and fixed it. It is now working. I am now happy and tired. Thanks to Dana from " Follow Stormy Days"

Last night I had my class on how to look after my new sewing machine. I actually learned alot. There was just three of us so the extra attention was great. A lady from Massatuchetts. Also a man that could not find anyone to hem his pants so he brought his ex wife's Kenmore sewing machine to learn how to hem his own pants. He did not know a thing about a sewing machine. I wonder how he will make out.

I had a great day today. My friends Marjorie, Connie and I did a road trip today. We headed to Amerest, Nova Scotia for the Fibre Arts Festival. WWW.fibreartsfestival.com.

We visited two old churches that had every pew filled with beautiful old and new quilts. Jackie from The Fabric Cupboard had her table set up with her Fabrics from her store. Can't resist buying a few pieces. We also visited a Bizarre that had lots of wool. And also Dale's that has the fabric store that we went for. This store has everything and a really good fabric department with lots of good buys. Then when we got back to Moncton we had to pay a visit to Fabric Ville. What a day

It could not of rained any harder today but we had lots of laughs and lots of fun.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

We have a new friend that has signing up for a blog. She is quite excited about it. Her Blog is named Shepody Mountain Crafter. Here is her link and her name is Connie. She is a beautiful sewer and has taught me alot over the years. So I hope you will encourage her and go over to see what she will be making.

Monday 8 October 2012

Well I got two blocks done for my Christmas tree skirt. I think it is going to be nice.


 
Just have to make four more.
 
It certainly was another beautiful day here. The weather has been so great we have been spoiled.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Even though I had bought a ton of material while I was away in Pennsylvania you never have enough. My friend and I decided to make a tree skirt for our tree. I went though my material and didn't have enough Christmas material to do it. So back to the fabric store.

 
Its beautiful material but expensive. Even though it was 30% off. I much prefer to buy material in the states. This is the tree skirt that I am going to make.
 
 
They also had their Halloween material on for 50% off so I picked up a couple of pieces.
 

It was nice because it is 60 inches wide. My first year for making Halloween decorations. This is my first runner.



Wednesday 3 October 2012

vintage Quilt

I got the binding on my Christmas quilt. I was so happy to get my first quilt out this year, I haven't quilted one in the last two years as I was having alot of trouble with my shoulder. I usually quilt two or three every winter. But I could not do anything last winter with the pain. Now maybe I can get ahead of the pile I need to do. I would love to piece more but I have to many ahead of me. I put another in the frame and hope to finish in the next couple of weeks. Then I have three bigger scrap quilts to quilt. 

Here is the picture Of the Vintage quilt.

 
 
It turned out well. One ready for Christmas and two more to go.
 
 
 
 

Tuesday 2 October 2012

I had the evening to myself and headed to the sewing room. I made this little runner.



It didn't turn out as well as I hoped. I was using left over material from the RTQA. So I will consider this my practise one. The pattern is Quiltie Trio, a quilt as you go pattern by G.E.Designs.





A beautiful fall day

What weather we are having. I went for a nice walk with a friend today and took some pictures of the area that I live. It was so warm that it felt like the middle of summer. What a day.

 
 
I live walking distance from this view. It is beautiful. This is the Hopewell Cape Rocks. The world's largest flower pot.
 
I took my Vintage Christmas quilt out today and put the binding on. Hope to have it sew  on tonight. I put my other Christmas quilt in also. I will have one for each of my daughter in laws for Christmas. As everyone keeps reminding us there is only 12 weeks left. Then we start all over again.