Mad as a hatter

Torry asked a question about the size of the plastic containers. OH -- I'll get those sizes for you tomorrow. But I mainly use two different plastic containers. The flat ones are designed for scrapbooking, which are large enough to put a 12" piece of scrapbook paper (quilt block) in. They are about 3" high. I saw them for $6 each at Micheals the other day, and sometimes they go on sale. 

I like them because if my pattern is large or I'm using a book, it fits easily into those containers. I mostly buy clear ones, but you can also get them in colors. 

The other boxes I use are similar in size to a shoebox, which is about 12" long, 5" high, and 8" wide. I'll post more on them tomorrow as I don't have time to run downstairs to get measurements. Those ones can be found at Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, or other big box stores. They are much more economical to purchase as you can buy them in bundles of 5 or something like that for relatively inexpensive. 

Watch for more details tomorrow. 

So now that we've had that big tidy-up, what's the status of your cutting table, sewing table, and ironing board? I'm in pretty good shape -- I just can't seem to keep the cutting board cleared up, and I know that's simply because I'm trying to do too many things. So I need to focus a wee bit, and then I'll be good. Now that I have a bit more room on the current project table, I can actually clear the cutting table off, and I'll be good. 

The most important thing is that NOTHING on any of those surfaces is sitting there because it doesn't have a home. It's there because I need to do something with it. There's a significant difference between the two!

It was another glorious day outside, and I went for a long walk. I even had to take my hat off at one point because I was sweating! I had to make a stop at the post office to mail off a couple of things. One of them was the envelope that was returned for insufficient postage. Did I mention that? 

So I mailed a pattern to someone in the US. She had sent me an e-mail to say she had not received the package. Oh no! Then I got home from the retreat, and there was the envelope with insufficient postage. Seriously? I took it to the post office to find out the required postage!! I originally paid $1.90 for postage, which was short by $1.25. What irked me was that the lady said -- I hope they honor the previous amount I put on and she actually called someone to check. 

HEY -- you better honor the first amount -- it was NOT my mistake. And they did, but still. 

Anyway -- I ended up with over 15 KM yesterday. Good grief! I've walked almost 400 KM this month -- the coldest month of the year, and most of that is outside. I'm mad as a hatter!! If you don't know the history behind that, check out that link. But I love walking, and when the sidewalks are clear, and the weather is nice -- I'm out! Even when I took the girls out in the morning -- it was cold - well, only minus 16 or something like that, but if you are dressed for it, there's no problem. 

I did get some sewing done, and I worked on my scrappy hexagon quilt. Yep -- everything looks great when we look at this picture. 

The scrappy hexagon quilt

But I needed that end design board in a hurry one day, so I tossed all the blocks on the floor, and that's where they remain! 

Part of the quilt is on the floor

However, I'm happy to report that the top two rows are together. Oh god -- I'm mad because I twirled the seams on those first two rows, and that almost killed me. But now I have the pressing pattern, so it should be easy to do the rest. I hate pressing seams open, as we would typically do with this kind of quilt. 

And look at those points, and I'm not matching them but letting them fall where they fall. 

Nice intersections

In between that, I used my hourglass units as enders and leaders, and I'm trying to trim them up as I sew them. I start with pairs of half-square triangles. These are NOT a pair, but there's a pair of blue ones and a pair of brown ones. 

Two pairs of half-square triangles

These pairs of half-square triangles are sewn together and pressed, ready to be trimmed down to the appropriate hourglass unit size. 

Hourglass units ready to trim

And I got some of the units trimmed. Yep --- all in a day's work. 

Trimmed hourglass units

I could have done more, but it was just one of those days where I had some issues to deal with, and not as much sewing got done. Plus, it took forever to get those seams twirled, and that's OK. 

Don't forget that I', blogging on QUILTsocial this week. Lots of great tips for applique and quilting this week. Be sure to check it out. 

And it's Virtual Retreat weekend. I hope to get lots done -- OH -- I always say that! But here are the links. 

Saturday, January 29 starting at 6 PM 

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

Sunday, January 30, starting at 11:30 AM

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81693717518?pwd=STNoVVQzbDd4ZnROQndNNlpvcC90QT09 Meeting ID: 816 9371 7518 Passcode: 579285

OK  -- I'd better a certain someone outside. I don't know why the rabbit insists on staying in our backyard. I did block the entrance that Murphy got into, but they just can't let this rabbit be. They pace the backyard - gazebo to the deck, to the shed, back to the gazebo. I've no idea where the rabbit is, but he's brave!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!