My best thinking

Murphy's thoughts are rubbing off on me! No, I didn't want to throw my sewing machine into the pond so someone could rescue it. But as she and I were walking yesterday, a thought popped into my head, and oh my goodness. I realized that if I added the embellishments in their two separate components, I could stitch them to the wall hanging. No glue required. It means sewing part of it with a sewing machine, which I like, as that's sturdier than glue. The second part of each embellishment can be hand-stitched. 

Thank you, Murphy, for that! I finally got to the sewing machine last night after dinner to test my theory, and it worked beautifully. I was so excited, I almost couldn't sleep. 

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time at the computer. Over the years, I've taught MANY large quilts that required multi-part classes. The list needed to be fact-checked and, in some cases, compiled. Without the help of my blog, I could NEVER have done it. And I completely forgot that I have a second blog, which came to mind when I woke up around 3 AM. Yes - for those who don't know, I started blogging around 2007. I was using the LiveJournal platform at the time. Here's a link back. 

When I went in there this morning, I found more information about those quilts, but I didn't have time to look into it. 

Now I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help me answer. The first is this quilt, called 'Around the Block,' which was taught at The Hobby Horse in 2008. Did anyone make this quilt? I did not keep class lists. I've sent an email to two people whom I think may have made it. I'm still waiting for an answer. 

Did you make this quilt with me?

The only reference on this blog is when I finished my top. And I vaguely remember giving this pattern away, as all I have left is a photocopy of the front. 

The second question is related to American Beauty (Marti Michell templates). I need to do more investigation on this one, but I think I only taught this at Cockadoodle Quilts in 2012. If you took that class from me anywhere other than Cockadoodle, let me know. I see more details on the LiveJournal blog about American Beauty, but it's too early for this quilt, so there must have been another quilt by the same name. I won't have time to check until later today. 

The third question is related to 'Long Time Gone,' which I know I taught twice, once at Thimbles and Things, starting in 2020. But I taught it a second time, and I'm certain that was not through a store. Does anyone have the year I did it independently? I have this information on my blog and will go back and check, but there are a ton of posts to go through. 

My email is elainetheriault@gmail.com. If you have the answers to any of the questions, feel free to send them to me.

On my master list of those multi-part classes, I added a couple that were shorter but still involved large projects. The total is over 80 since 2003. It's no wonder I have so many UFOs!!! Never mind some other large quilts that were multi-part (I mostly remember Marti Michell), but didn't make the list. 

And then DH and I played the EXIT Game last night; he was the one who came up with the answer. It was one of those AHA moments, and yes - it worked! We have one puzzle left, and we are done with this graphic novel. I think he will be pleased when it's done! He's not a fan of the characters, nor the story. 

Here's the little console table I bought. It's pretty neat, and I like that it can be pulled under the chair, although it's a bit short for that. However, your feet don't get caught up in the legs, and it's pretty sturdy. There is a storage pocket on one side. 

Our new console table

But here's the part I really like. It has a folding top, so it looks like this when it's closed. 

The table is in the closed position

And it opens up to this. Made in India, found at Homesense. 

The console table opened up

I had the most amazing walk yesterday. Everything in my leg/back was settled down, and I felt absolutely nothing. Being in discomfort for so long and then nothing is a wonderful feeling. Will it last? I doubt it, but let's be positive! Can it be the better posture and stretching that are helping? I can only hope so and will continue to do them. Perhaps this was a message from above - telling me to get off my butt and do something about myself. 

I swear, DH has a terrible attitude. He is struggling with various issues with his mom, and I asked him the other day what he was doing so he wouldn't become like her. He said it was his business and I shouldn't worry about it. Excuse me, but I do NOT want to become your caregiver. It is MY business as well. I have no idea why people think that what they do is entirely their own business! If a family member has to become your caregiver or clean up after you, then it's their business! 

So that's something to contemplate. 

I need to switch shoes. I needed to do that a while ago, but didn't want to break in new shoes in the mess of rain and snow. When I checked the bottoms yesterday, you can see how this leg issue is causing me to put more pressure on my right foot than my left. That's not good, and so stretching is the name of the game! Don't yell at me - they are long overdue, and the new ones will come out of the box this afternoon. 

Uneven wear on the bottom of my shoes

Speaking of putting things in the pond, I was outside enjoying my bran muffin and the lovely day when Miss Murphy decided to play with her fish, an outdoor toy that is more often in the house than out. She was getting mighty close to the edge, so I had to get up, grab the toy, and bring everyone inside. Sigh.

MOM - the fish wanted to swim! 

As I was fact-checking on the blog, I came across several photos that made me chuckle. Oh - I spotted more than these, but I only grabbed three for your enjoyment.  

Here's a pile of stuff waiting at the front door to be donated. This was from 2015, when I emptied all the cupboards in the kitchen and donated half of the contents. I told you I've been at this for a long time. And we could go through the cupboards again, and I'd likely find more stuff that we don't use. 

The donation pile from 2015

Yes, the decluttering thing is a long-term, ongoing project that never stops. The second you bring something new into the house, something should go out! 

This next one is from Studio B. Oh my -- look how neat and tidy that corner is. That's my computer from upstairs, and I remember doing some work on it downstairs. And I think the tables are nice and clear because I was hosting a weekly hand-embroidery club there. Imagine keeping it like that all the time - that would kill me these days. I didn't take note of the date, but it was around 2015. 

A spotless corner of Studio B back in the day

And then there is this! Yes -- while Studio B doesn't look so great, it certainly looks much better than this. I didn't get the date of this photo either, but it was from 2012? Anyway, it's a huge mess, and if I don't get myself back in order, it's going to look that way again! No, it won't, as I won't let it get that bad. 

Studio B from a messier time

Now that I know how to complete the Trendtex challenge, I can finish it. My goal is to finish it today. If it arrives at its destination before April 30, it has a chance to be in the judging. I don't really care about that, but it would be nice to say I met a deadline! It still will go in the auction if it doesn't meet the April 30 deadline. 

And more writing happened yesterday - it was a LONG day at the computer! I have a ton of work to get done this week, but every little bit is bringing me closer to the finish line. I know I'll never be on top of it all, and I just have to live with that. But summer is coming, and I shouldn't have to accept anything new, so that's a positive. It might give me a chance to catch up a bit! LOL!!! Such a dreamer I am. 

Well, I'm off to spin class. And someone mentioned another new-to-be Canadian author. Tessa Wegert. I couldn't find her first book (6 in the series) on the digital services, so I had to resort to the library, and there it was. It's going to be on hold later today. 

I'm reading another great book right now - about a "mentally retarded" girl who rides the bus all day. I'm running out of time - I'll share the details of the true story tomorrow. 

Have a super day!!!! And if you can help with those three questions, that would be awesome. I know I'll be thinking about all three of them while at spin class. It makes the time zip by! 

Ciao!!!

Suspicious!

Oh yes - I am still very suspicious of all this internet stuff. I did move my laptop back down stairs and so far so good.  Thanks to my Facebook friends - one for alerting me about the number of devices as a potential fix to the problem and another for telling me how to fix it. That will come later today but for now - I am able to work. Big thanks to Margaret and Alan.

However I went to photocopy something this morning and NOTHING - the printer was dead.  I know - can this really be happening????   Well - I unplugged the printer because I couldn't get it to turn on or off. OK - I didn't know its' ON/OFF status.  I got two photocopies made and then the printer reset the size of paper (my printer thinks it lives in Europe with their odd paper sizes). But I managed to reset that setting and next thing I know - it is trying to print ONE HUNDRED copies of my document.  I put a quick stop to that. So - things are good - I got my copies - printer is working and now I am just waiting for the next thing to go wacko!

Oh and when I went to load pictures this morning, I couldn't find the most recent pictures. ACK - what happened????   Then I realized that I had reached the maximum number of pictures in that FOLDER on the camera (9999) and then the camera opens a new folder. Oh thank goodness!!!!


Overall, yesterday was an AWESOME day. Why????   Have a look........

First let me explain something. I got kicked out of my studio on Sunday afternoon (I'll show you why tomorrow) and as a result, I was forced to work in the kitchen. Perfect as I prepped everything for Monday which I don't always do and then I am not productive.

I had to cut binding strips for a quilt - I needed eight strips. This is the situation on the eighth strip - there was JUST enough fabric - I barely cut anything off that last piece. BUT I got eight strips.

Last binding strip cut

And now the backing and the binding are DONE on another quilt which will go into the TO BE QUILTED pile

Someone gave me this old top a while back and I wasn't sure what to do with it. Then I saw an article on quilting older tops with modern designs and that is what I am going to do with it.


When I managed to get back into my studio on Sunday night, I was determined to get that Professional Bag done.

These are the pieces I had left

I pulled out the big guns - my industrial machine for the sewing. You don't need it, but my regular sewing machine just cannot handle those thick seams. My older machine skips stitches terribly on thick stuff. 

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE those WONDER clips. 

 I know some people use them for binding, but since I only use TWO clips for binding - I am OK to use my regular binding clips, but for THICK things - these WONDER clips are a WONDER!!!!

This reminds me of sewing that Weekender bag - trying to sew the corner of a cardboard box!!!!

And this is the outer portion of the bag and this is where I finished on Sunday evening. 

 Hauled the big machine to Monday Mania and I worked and I worked - well not that hard since we had loads of laughs and chatting.

LAST SEAM!!!!!!!!!!!

Back of the Professional Bag

Front of the Professional Bag

Inside of the Professional Bag

 This is a very detailed bag. LOTS and LOTS of details - pockets, business card holder, zippers, cording, buttonholes, etc.  BUT the finished product is well worth all the effort.

That is a class I will be teaching at The Hobby Horse - two parts - February 1 and March 1.  Check it out - you will LOVE this bag when it is done. There is even a zipper to close the entire bag at the top.  Well designed! I am impressed.

And things don't stop there. I told you - I am determined to get a handle on things this year. I just have to. Each year gets better so after three years - I am hoping that in 2015 we will see some significant changes.

I finished the applique stitching on this quilt that I had dug out to work on in Applique Club.  I am happy to report that it is now sitting in the TO BE QUILTED pile. This was a $10 quilt at The Hobby Horse in 2007.

Simple County Sampler by The Rabbit Factory

Made the binding this morning and the backing is done as well

Then I took some time to tidy up a bit. Each pile on these work tables represents a project that is currently in the works. Most of them have a deadline or are just current that I want to finish.

Current projects

 But the best news of all..............

YES - there is SOME open space on that 2015 shelf. 

Why? Because some of the projects are on the work table. So when I need to clear the work tables - the projects can be put onto the shelf. That was the plan all along - it just took three years to figure it out!!!!!!

Yes - there are TWO laundry baskets and TWO big IKEA bags that are also sitting with projects that need to be addressed soon, but I am ignoring them for the moment. If too much appears on that table - I will lose focus and that would be a bad thing!!!!

I hope that I can get ahead of the game soon because I am tired of working to deadlines. I was OK with it before, but not enjoying it so much now. Getting old!!!!   Don't get me wrong - I still want to sew all day and do crazy stuff, but I don't want the pressure of a deadline.


Yesterday I talked about that book - Simplify by Camille Roskelley.  OK - so I read a bit more and now I know why I HATE (OK - that is a strong word) but why these books for the modern quilter or new quilter don't agree with me.

First off - MOST of the authors of these kind of books have fabric lines - and in particular many are with MODA which means charm squares, jelly rolls, etc. The patterns are based on using those pre-cuts which I think is a cop-out. Where is our creativity if we can ONLY use what the fabric manufacturer is telling us to use. Don't get me wrong - I like the pre-cuts - well - no I don't like them. There is NOT enough variety within the fabric line. Many of them look the same. While I am happy with the few quilts I have made with pre-cuts, NONE of them are WOW quilts.  I am trying to NOT purchase those pre-cuts any longer, but they sure do look cute!!!!

Anyway at one point in the book I came across this. It was mentioned that if your scrap bag was over flowing that you could cut it up into 5 inch squares to make this particular pattern. Well THIS pattern had you cut up the charm squares, then resew them together and trim them DOWN to 4 inches. Seriously?????   You are asking me to intentionally throw out 1/5 of my fabric???????    And that is why I HATE these kinds of books. Make it easy so anyone can understand them - NO - we should be teaching people to think for themselves!!!!!!    And that is why I love more complex quilts with tiny pieces - NOTHING goes to waste!!!!

On that note - I had better get dressed. I am back to the gym this morning - I am trying Pilates and then I have a couple of classes to teach.


Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plan A and B and C and D????

It has been a busy couple of days and I haven't really had a chance to respond to e-mails or get a lot of sewing done. And my TO DO list is getting longer and out of control!!!   I think my priority today though will be to call Roger's about the new modem/router which is NOT good. The service is much worse than what we had before so of course when the family wasn't happy before - they certainly are NOT in good humour about the situation. And I have to agree with them - the internet is S L O W.


So you remember this quilt from yesterday - just needed the machine stitching done on the applique shapes in the top right and bottom left corners.

Simple Country Sampler

I am happy to report that the bottom left corner is COMPLETE!!!!!

Stitching complete on this applique

But not before I had to deal with a bent needle

The backing is done. 

See why I like busy prints for quilt backs???   There are TWO horizontal seams along the right side of that backing.  You really don't see them. And once that vertical seam is pressed you will barely see that as well.

The only thing left is to finish that stitching on the applique in the top right and of course the binding. More on that in a moment.

At Monday this past week - I worked on this project.  This one started out as a table runner. It was a kit that I purchased from Barb. There was a LOT of excess fabric in the kit so I kept making blocks. Then Susan said she had the same kit, had made the table runner and had lots of fabric left over and she gave the scraps to me. I was able to make the area outlined in black on the quilt below.

Outlined section made from one table runner kit and leftovers from another

I still had a few small pieces left and the quilt wasn't quite as big as I wanted so I took the leftovers from the Simple Country Sampler and used them to make the rest of the blocks. As you can see - the two quilts are somewhat similar in colour.

Similar colour scheme

I got all the blocks pieced at Monday and most of them stitched together, but I was so fired up that I continued when I got home. But not without some difficulty. See - I sewed that piece on the wrong side of the quilt!!!!

Ooops...............

Then I sewed the second (brown) border on the quilt. Oh my - how organized I am - the border strips were already cut and joined together. I just had to measure the length of each border, cut it and sew it on.

Next up was the last border.  Hmmm - I should make them 4 1/2". OH NO - when I pulled out the fabric from the project box - the borders were already cut into strips. 6 1/2" wide.

Border strips already cut

 I had to cut TWO more 6 1/2" strips to get enough for the border.

Hmmm - I had better check how much binding I have. You see - I had already made the binding. When I measured it - I was short THIRTY inches.  Really?????     I NEVER do something stupid like this but obviously I did!!!!

There is a lesson to be learned here - NEVER cut the borders until you are ready to put them on. Make sure you have enough fabric for the binding and borders before you cut!!!!!

This is all the fabric I have left. I am good, but not that good that I can squeeze thirty inches of binding from this. 

We have a problem and let's see what we can do to fix it.

Plan A - shop Chez Elaine

Whipped out the purple fabrics and NOPE - nothing that comes close

Plan B - get the information from the selvedges and shop on-line

Buggy Barn Basics Pattern #7098   Colour?????

Hmmmm - that looks too purple for me

Again - too purple

Hmmm - this one is not purple, they call it plum. Hmmmm - is my fabric plum????

Plan C - call a couple of stores that I know that carry this fabric and see what they have. Store A  - no Buggy Barn left. Store B - yes they have that colourway, but in a different pattern than the stars.

See the fabric isn't really purple

Plan D - I have enough of the star fabric binding to bind the smaller quilt with the applique or I could make that binding (it will also be purple) with fabric left over from making the project. Then I could purchase the same colourway, different pattern to finish off this quilt.  Hmmmmmmmm - I am going to think about that today to see what I will end up doing.

The binding challenged quilt

 I love having options and I love trying to solve this kind of mess which is no one's fault but my own. Oh - there is a Plan E -  I suppose and that is to remember where I bought that purple fabric - I bought it recently (within last 6 months) and get more.  That is why I need to mull this over in my head for a day or two before I take action.

On that note - I am off to get stuff done today.


Have a great day!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!

How to post a blog in 15 minutes or less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness that I edited my pictures first thing when I got up.  Went to the gym - had a super spin class with Joseph.  He is a very popular instructor - there were 39 in the class this morning!  I know - I counted them!  But I find those classes not only good for the body, but AWESOME for the mind.  I have solved many problems during his classes including another one this morning.  I will be able to action out that problem tomorrow now that I know what I am going to do.  I will be sharing that with you later this week.

Then I had breakfast with the gym friends and I stayed way too late which is why I now have 15 minutes - well less to get this post out!!!!!


One day - I should just post pictures and see if you can  make up a story to go with the pictures!!!

Anyway - Sunday was applique club and there were 15 of us all busy like bees.  I was going to start something new and then I gave my head a big shake and said NO.  This would be a great opportunity to finish up some stuff.

So I pulled out this project box.................

Project box - yes - there is a lot of fabric in there, the pattern was there and so was the quilt top. 

Simple Country Sampler by The Rabbit Factory

This was the $10 quilt at The Hobby Horse in 2007.   Somewhere along the line, I had most of it complete, but the applique in two corners was NOT done.


So this is what I did during applique club.

Top right corner

Bottom left corner

I managed to get the applique pieces prepped and glued on - just need to be stitched down by machine.  I have the threads out, needle changed to a smaller size - the machine is threaded - I just need an hour or so and it will be done!!!!!!!!!!

I even made the back the other day and the binding - well that is a story I will share with you another day!!!!  And while I was working and finishing this up  - I remembered another project that used similar colouring of fabric so I dug that out - that is the box on the right below.

Two projects - more on what happened to both tomorrow when hopefully the story will be complete!!!

 The others were all busy working on their respective projects. Many brought something that was in the works - no new stuff. Well maybe one or two new projects. I didn't get pictures of most.

Dede got one Dear Jane block appliqued

Wait - she managed to get TWO Dear Jane blocks appliqued and I think she did some prep work on another project!!!

See those two smiling faces?  Yes Annadel and Nancy - I think they look guilty if you ask me!!!!   It was all about having fun on Sunday and we had loads of fun!!!!!

Someone (I can't remember who) had these wonderful boxes of WonderFil thread.  I want them!!!!!    This is 100 weight thread and PERFECT for hand applique!!!!!

Helen Anne had been experimenting (I love people who experiment) and she had tried her new applique tools - the APPLIQUICK tools.  She tried different weights of stabilizer - I think she did an awesome job. 

This is one of the stabilizers that she tried and we thought it worked very nicely. 

Wow - and there you have it - a fabulous day with friends - we all got tons of work done. I made huge progress on an old old project. I think everyone went home happy and that is what it is all about!!!!

On that note - I am getting ready for embroidery club this morning. I know - the only way I get things done is to share my time with others!!!!   Otherwise - I would fritter the time away - well I wouldn't, but I would get other things done. This is for fun!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!