Sunday 9 October 2011

Happy Thanksgiving (The Canadian One!)

For all my Canadian friends and family, whether you are home or abroad, I hope you are having a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend. I would like to say we followed tradition here and had the full roast turkey dinner, but we went for the turkey's smaller cousin and had a roast duck instead. And very nice it was too!

I have a few things to report on today. I received my latest bee blocks, and since we have firmly established that my brain went to live in a different body a while ago, my last blocks were not the last but one, nor were the blocks I credited to Jenny from Jenny. Complete mess up on my part. Those blocks were from Jo. These blocks are from Jenny - and very nice they are too - and, yes, Sarah, I am afraid you are the last to post but I don't care. Quite frankly it is going to be a little while before I get all my swap stuff in order and have the time to concentrate on my bee quilt. So don't fret. I'm not going anywhere and they can arrive whenever they want.

Jenny's blocks.
This has been the most blissfully relaxing weekend I have had in simply ages so you would think that I would have tons of sewing news to report, but it may be that I relaxed a little too much. Part of me is reprimanding myself because I have so much to get done, but the relaxed part of me just could not care less. I needed some down time. It was nice!

Helen has been in the kitchen again today. More cakes and a small contretemps with me over just who is supposed to clean up the resulting mess. (I won!!) She practiced her piping skills today and I am well impressed with the evenness of her little 'buttons'.

Please ignore the colour of the actual cake.
Helen is experimenting with food dyes in the batter.
Wish she didn't think blue and green were great colours for cake!
Helen also had a little assistance with her cake today from Bethany. Please keep in mind that Bethany is the most precious of her possessions, thank you.

I did not stage this photo.
I went into the kitchen and this is exactly how I found Bethany.
Helen was cheerfully working away at her side.
And now a little something about the Modern Christmas Tablerunner Swap. I have been designing some possibilities for my partner to mull over.


I have to say that I am leaning towards number one which is the plainest in many ways, but I think it would look brilliant in some great blues like this.


Number two would be very bright if I did stars in all different colours. I pulled these fabrics as possibilities.


Number three would be completely scrappy, a hodge podge from my stash. Even though I designed it I am secretly hoping my partner doesn't pick it as her favourite because I think it would be a right nightmare to make. Now all I need is for my secret partner to express an opinion or preference. She might no like any of them. Or she might like one but prefer a different colour scheme. We shall see.

I hope that you have been having as relaxing a weekend as I have. Sure does beat being in a tent!

Susan

29 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Just wish we could have Monday off even though we are here in the UK :o)

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  2. Happy thanksgiving! We've just had Lancashire hot pot (not v.trad.) with roast pots. Yum! I really like your no.1 table runner option, thought those xmas trees are v.cute! Jxo

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  3. At first glance I like #2 the best, but after reading your description, I think that #1 would be simply amazing!! You're partner will be lucky either way! And if you need to get a practice one out of the way, you can always send 'em to me! lol :)

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  4. love your pile of blues and your number 1 idea ,happy thanksgiving to you !!

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  5. happy Canadian thanksgiving, roast duck sounds delish. I love Helens little kitchen helper, that did make me laugh!

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  6. Happy Thanksgiving Susan! Love your table runner designs - I'm not your partner clearly but no 1 would be my choice. Hope your partner ives you the steer you need. Glad you had some good down time this weekend.

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving! No 1 please! it looks lovely- but I don't think I'm your partner???

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  8. Happy relaxed thanksgiving Susan - and thanks for organising this swap ! I love all three I think although you just needed to mention snowflakes and I was all for no 1! You need to do all 3 then let me choose which I like best! No pressure! Heehee!

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  9. Happy Cnadian Thanksgiving Susan! I left my very confused comments on Flikr, if I didn't know he was packed away safe, I swear Bethany is a dead ringer for my son's companion when he was a wee nipper! We cheated and went to Waitrose for curry for lunch :) Mmmm, no washing up!

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  10. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Secret Partner pick number 3 - oh please!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving! Well, I've been commenting on Flickr and you will know by now that I love them all but I really really love no 3. But if I'm your partner, I love them all and would love you to make something that is fun for you too. I think the blues would be amazing too, the fabrics you've pulled are so gorgeous and your handquilting is always fab!

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving!
    I love the photo of Bethany. I think Helen is my kind of girl (ok, it might be rather embarassing at my age, but look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tusen/3024503218/)
    And I'm really sorry I'm not taking part in your Christmas Tablerunner Swap. I love design 1 (although 3 looks so cool, too)

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  13. Happy Thanksgiving Susan and family! Sounds like you had a perfect day. Love your designs and your partner is sure to too.

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving Susan to you and your family.

    I think Miss Helen has a flair for the arts with that photo of Bethany. That's a pretty good looking cake too.

    Im kind of kicking myself now I didn't join in on your Tablerunner swap even though I know I would have gone into complete meltdown trying to get that and everything else on my massive sewing list done.

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  15. Happy Thanksgiving! The green cake and little helper made me giggle :)
    Glad you had a relaxing weekend!

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  16. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
    denise/deBRAT in a wet wet tampa bay Florida

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  17. Happy Thanksgiving to you, lovely lady! Love the chef's little helper, and as for your designs, all fab, but I'd pick No.3, sorry! x

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  18. Happy thanksgiving honey! Sounds like you've had a great day, and I cant believe you have 3 designs to choose from already... They all sound good to me. Helen is so funny, loved the pic of bethany! Oooh, I actually cooked today too!

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  19. happy thanksgiving to you - love the post today (not that i dislike any of your others ;>) and as for your swap - love no.1 - i'm having all sorts of issues with flickr - hopefully i can get onto it today, otherwise it's off to the shop again... cheers

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  20. I hope you do 1 cause it would just be fantastic, and then you could post a quick tutorial so I could make one.

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  21. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!
    I really like the round blocks, looks complicated, is it? What do you call this block, it's just lovely.

    Carolyn

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  22. I love Helen's neat little piped buttons on the cake! And your ideas for the tablerunner swap are all great - although due to my penchant for perle cottons I'd have to say I think the top one with the snowflakes is best!

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  23. Please could you send Bethany over - you know I could always do with a hand in the kitchen

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  24. I wish I could say I had a relaxing weekend. I worked a great deal and short of that little pic I did last night for a "mock up" I haven't had time to do anything sewing related. I did finally hear from that designer a "sorry I haven't gotten back to you but will soon" email. LOL I am so glad you relaxed - you needed that. Too often us quilters forget to do that. And when we do we feel guilty for it.

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  25. Number 2! Number 2! I love them all, really, but 2 is screaming at me - esp in those colors. Fab :)

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  26. Happy Turkey day :-) Sorry I missed it, busy weekend! We actually had a big roast dinner on sunday too! Helen is a hoot! And her piping is pretty fab :-)

    I love number 3. But I would say that...

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  27. Happy thanksgiving :o) I had chicken massala and pilau rice (from scratch) yesterday, it was yummy in front of the fire in the cottage.

    What's wrong with blue and green cakes? You can't see when they go mouldy, so they last forever...

    I love all 3 runners

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  28. Quite envious of you roast duck - sounds yummy!

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  29. Love your runner designs! Helen's piping skills are impressive and I love that she has a baking companion - I think every kitchen should have a Bethany to help them with the mixing! (And maybe Bethany needs a custom made pinny for her baking sessions?!!)

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