A treasure trove of batiks!

I am home! Except for a couple of errands by car, I don't have to budge (unless something comes up) until September 21, which then involves another two silly weeks of travel, packing, and unpacking. But I have not quite four weeks to "lounge" around!

The drive was pretty decent yesterday, although one minute it was raining and the next it wasn't. It was like that on the way there and the way back. But that's OK. 

I did require a wee nap on the way home -- just too much going on. Please do not compare your life to mine - it is not glamorous by any means. Packing and unpacking, loading the car or lugging stuff into an airport. Thankfully, this is not an everyday occurrence. I would die! 

I'm getting old for this, but yet I'm not. I love being in front of people and telling my stories, and I'm still young enough to handle that! 

The more I listen to myself with my stories about machine embroidery and the new PFAFF creative icon 3, the more I love it. I unpacked everything last night, and it's on the right floor of the house. Now I just have to deal with it, and I don't want to take too long because I'll need it for my Facebook Live in two weeks. 

The big question will be, "how to condense three hours into one!"

I'll figure it out. 

I had never been to Heather Bell's Sewing Studio before, and it was quite the surprise. She does a lot of machine embroidery and so has loads of patterns, BUT if you are looking for batiks, this is the place to go. This is just a small portion of the batiks. 

Batiks galore at Heather Bell's Sewing Studio

I am thinking of pulling out one of my Jacqueline de Jonge patterns that requires lots of rainbow colors in batik. You typically don't want the batiks with the patterns, and Heather has a HUGE range of "solids." They have texture, but no print. Oh my --- I already have some set aside for one of the quilts, but I'm missing a lot of values in various colors. I think this is going to be the place to go. 

I could make it a day trip, since there are a couple of other shops along the way that I would like to stop at. 

When I got home, I spotted this box on the kitchen table. OH -- my box of puzzles arrived from the Puzzle Master store in Saskatoon. 

Another box of puzzles

DH doesn't usually comment on my purchases, but he asked why I needed more, and he is right! I don't need more. Good thing he doesn't know the half of it downstairs. I'd better puzzle faster!

We had been talking about setting a budget, and he mentioned that now I was home, I need to work on the budget (for both of us). We have some serious financial goals, and to meet them, we need a budget. 

I know my Excel gurus would be dying to give me a lesson, and perhaps they can, or I'm just going to wing some numbers in and hope it all turns out. I'm sure there is an app that could help, but I'm happy to just play. 

It would help if I could pull numbers from my bank statement. I think that is possible and I'll have a look later today. 

What am I going to work on today? I have no idea - there is so much, and while Studio B isn't in too bad of shape, there's still a lot of stuff in various places where it's not supposed to be. I also need to get that long arm back in business. 

And there are a few techniques I want to experiment with further on the creative icon 3, so there will be no end to what can keep me amused today. It will just be nice to eat what I want, when I want, and to have a nap when I want if I need one!

But I have more events for the PFAFF creative icon 3, and I'll keep making up new samples or finish some of the ones I have been working on. I have two things in mind that I can't wait to remake with the new tools on this embroidery machine. Hopefully, I can make them by September 9. 

The cleaning service is coming this morning, so I had to get things squared away, which took about 10 minutes, if that, and that included making the bed. It really does help when everything has a home, and you keep it looking tip-top throughout the week. 

I'm a little strapped for time this morning because I was exhausted last night and I slept in. Murphy seems to be settling in as well, and she asks to come upstairs at night. She will NOT sleep on the main floor by herself, even though Lexi is there. I have no idea why, but at least she is in the house. 

I found this word of wisdom, which is so true. Although I question the brick wall inside the ear. What am I missing? 

I'm going to have to sit down this morning and go through some email - I have some email to answer, several phone calls to address, expense reports to fill out, and tidy up where I can. 

And I have a couple of things to return from the electrical escapade. I'd better do those today if I can drag myself to the car and drive there. It's not that far away. 

By the way, the Facebook Live for the PFAFF creative icon 3 is on September 9. I see it's not advertised on the post yet, but this is the page. I believe it's at 3 PM EST, or maybe it's 2. 

There is a Virtual Retreat this weekend, and I'm super excited about that. It will be Saturday evening from 6 PM - 9 PM, and on Sunday from 3 PM to 9 PM. I'll post the links on Friday. 

And it's the week for the final call to sign up for my classes. If you or anyone you know might be interested (anywhere in the world works), you can sign up for these classes. Remember - the scrap class is full. 

And that's a wrap for today. I must get at least one girl out for their walk by themselves before the cleaning crew comes. It's been tight for time, so they have gone together, which no one likes, but at least they are getting a walk in. And so am I! I'm feeling like a slug! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!