The old and the new

 

Wow -- it was like Grand Central Station at my house yesterday. People picked up quilts, pet mats, the cabinet, UPS stopped by to pick up a package, and I had a drop off as well - door to door delivery from a quilt shop! But not by the quilt shop - the package was pony expressed by a friend. It was crazy, and I was hoping that no one picked up the wrong thing. But all is well. 

The little cabinet? It's already has a new home and a new purpose. I love that someone found a use for it right away. I had to laugh because as I saw what the new owner put in it, I thought - OH - I could have done that. But I have other storage options for my thread. I don't need this!! There's nothing to give away today. Sorry. 

The little cabinet has been repurposed

Despite the cold weather, I walked 11 KM yesterday, and most of that was outside. I did cut the walks a bit short in the morning, and the girls were not happy. But seriously - if you dress properly, it's not so bad, and I haven't even reverted to my fleece-lined jeans, although I might put them on this morning because it's even colder. And once you get out, it's really not bad. The sun was out in the afternoon, and that walk was glorious. There's nothing like a bit of fresh air to brighten up your day. I even went to the grocery store and brought the groceries home in my backpack. 

Although at one point, I thought I was going to be blown away. I hadn't gotten to the store yet, and the wind was behind me. All of a sudden, a gust blew the flap of the backpack up behind my head, and I felt like I was going to start to fly any minute!

I had an errand in the car, so I decided to wear my "new" shoes. Then I went for my walk in the new shoes, and they were quite comfortable. Not the best support, so I won't do that often, but it was fun. I didn't even notice, but it was the first thing DH noticed when I got back. This kind of thing drives him crazy. He's so conservative it hurts. I can't wait until we can go out again for dinner. I'm wearing those new shoes! 

My new shoes

Yesterday was my fourth car trip this year. I don't need much and well - there's a stay at home order, so I'm staying at home. But so much has changed since I've been out. I saw this building on my way out, and I had to stop and take a picture on the way back. I did pull over to snap the photo, so I wasn't using my phone while driving. I'm intrigued. I LOVE it. Shoot - sorry for that big swatch of ice on my window. 

An intriguing building made from shipping containers

Another view of the shipping container house

Can you see what it's made of???  Shipping containers!!!!  They look like they were painted as they were all pretty. I would LOVE a house of shipping containers. As a matter of fact, I LOVE this building and would move in. But I don't think it's a house - it's some kind of commercial? Building???

OH MY GOD -- you can Google anything these days. Here's a link to something about it. Still, no one knows exactly, but there's a better picture. I LOVE the internet. It would be so cool to live in a place like that and have a HUGE studio made from containers. I'm in!!! Maybe it's for sale, and I need to win the lottery!

When I was cleaning up the other night, I found these books. Oops - I wasn't cleaning up; I was looking for something. I don't have time to share it with you today, but I was looking for a book, and I found these OLD project books from Husqvarna Viking! Probably more than 20 years old. I may not want to do the projects inside, but there's some inspiration. You can find inspiration anywhere!!!

Old project books from Husqvarna

Then I was off to the garage, where I needed to get some cardboard boxes. After the big unpacking session from Studio B, I saved the last of the cardboard boxes. There were many of them, and I didn't want them going to the recycling plant. We have this HUGE shelf up high in the garage, which is the perfect spot for them. As I was pulling boxes down, I discovered something. What???  OH MY - it's the cover for the missing plastic tub. 

The storage shelf in the garage

Really? I put it in the garage? I certainly didn't remember that, and I'm sure I would since I need a ladder to access that shelf. When I pulled the lid down, it was quite dirty, so it can't be from the one that was in the house. Then I remembered that we also have this motorized hanging rack in the garage that's supposed to be for bicycles—two of them. I glanced up and saw a big green tub (the same color as the other ones), and there's no lid. AHA  - the lid comes from that tub. 

A green bucket stuck on the motorized rack

Oh my -- now, in an ideal world, I would use the little button at the end of that coil to lower that tub - I do believe it's empty. However, there's a key that needs to be found before the little button can be unlocked. Good grief - I don't know where the key is. I think it's on the workbench in the garage, which is the LAST area in the garage that needs to be addressed. I don't know about you, but I'm NOT going to stand out in the cold garage looking for a key. DARN!!!  

However, I brought the lid into the house, and I"ll wash it up later so it can go on that tub. Who knows what I did with that missing lid. But at least I have a lid, so I'm good. 

So this is one of the things that I picked up yesterday. Oh my - the NEW (third edition) of the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. Yes - it has a wrapper on it, and the old me would likely be looking at that book in twenty years with the wrapper still on. However, I was browsing through it last night, and it's so much nicer than the old one. 

The Third Edition of the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns

Here's the old one which I think is the second edition, although it doesn't say so. 

My old version of the same book

I got asked an intriguing question the other day, and we're going to find the answers in these books. I don't have time to share today, so watch for the story, hopefully, tomorrow. And I still owe you the pictures of the UFO. There's just so much to say and not enough time!!!!

Don't forget the Virtual Retreat this weekend. I've been madly prepping, and I've got a lot set aside that is ready to sew. I do so love my mini design boards. I should be able to sit at the sewing machine and computer (with my wireless earbuds) and get a TON of work done. 

The prepped sewing for the Virtual Retreat

I still have a wee bit more that I want to get prepped, so hopefully later today and tomorrow, I can get all this prepped, and then I'll just sit and sew during the retreat. 

Stuff that still needs to be cut

Most of it is homework assignments for next month, so I won't have much to share with you, but that's OK - you'll get to see it eventually. 

Here's one thing I can share with you! Another blog post on QUILTsocial. I had so much fun with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Sapphire 85. Check it out. And what do you think of the little project I made? You get to see the final thing in the link I'll post tomorrow. 

I've learned that I can accomplish a TON, but the moment I get an interruption or a break in the work, I'm almost done for the day. I had a one-hour play session in the morning (on Zoom) - more on that another day, and in the afternoon, I had to do my errand, and then I went for a walk. When I got back, I couldn't get back into the groove. But I did sit at the computer and get some computer work done, so it wasn't a total waste. I'm good with a walk break but longer than one hour, and I struggle to get back to work! 

Here are the links for theVirtual Retreat this weekend. 

Saturday, January 30 --- 6 PM -- 9 PM

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89254233911?pwd=VGQrTnFybW1HMWpleHA4M2Q2NGVwZz09 Meeting ID: 892 5423 3911 Passcode: 982797

Sunday, January 31   - 10 AM   - 8 PM

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87246635892?pwd=VGY1cUUyLzRaRi9VUVV2ZWFINXc2dz09 Meeting ID: 872 4663 5892 Passcode: 440473

Stop by to say hi or stay and sew for a while. I learn so much from everyone who pops in. We get to see some show and tell, keep up with news from around the world! And just plain have fun. So if you're missing chatting to people, here's a great way to meet new friends and stay connected. We talk about everything and everyone! Well, that's not true - we don't talk about others. 

Have a super day!!!!!

Ciao!!!