The slow death of magazines

I hate it when computer programs don't work how I think they should! But that's OK - there's always a workaround, and perhaps there is a better way, but for now, I'm OK with how it works. Things are good - my schedule, while not slowing down, is comfortable. 

I hung my calendar in the office to enjoy the photos and be reminded of my upcoming walking/hiking journeys. What exactly is the difference between the two? It doesn't really matter. I will enjoy January for a week, then switch to February for a week, and then into March. I bought it for the inspiration and the pictures, not to be used as a calendar. 

The hiking calendar

I was doing some more tidying up. OH, BOY -- I have many things set aside for machine embroidery. I'd better fire up both machines and keep them busy. With everything I have set aside, I could stitch for a month and still not get through the pile! 

Things for machine embroidery

Look at that Murphy girl! She can be quite the pest, although, at the moment, she's peacefully curled up in her dog bed in the office. I think it's time for another haircut for her! Her hair is so fine that it's crazy. I now have her brush beside me, so whenever she comes for a cuddle, and she makes that an aggressive cuddle, I grab the brush and give her a few swipes. It makes no difference - she's just as messy within minutes. She definitely reminds me of Linus. 

MOM - I love belly rubs

And the bear? Yep- he's minus an arm that is still stuck in the snow in the backyard. 

MOM - I need a new bear

I had to buy her some dog food because we were almost out, so I caved and bought her a new bear. But this one is for the house, although I know she will sneak it outside when I'm not looking. She is quick - if the bear is sitting close to the backdoor, which it is, she'll ask to go out, grab the bear, and go before I can say NO. I'll move it to her toybox and hope for the best. 

MOM - thanks for the new toy!

See how she positioned it for a quick exit on the mat by the back door. 

Mom - I'm just checking it out

Although it was windy, it was another fabulous day outside. The fish were out in the pond. I think we lost a lot of fish. I counted 11 of them, and we used to have scads. It might be time for a good pond cleaning this spring, although that will be a highly complex process since many of the plants have rooted and spread like mad in the bottom. How to hack through all that will be a challenge. 

The fish enjoying a beautiful day

I don't have a chair out yet for the gazebo, but I might bring it out for the weekend as we are supposed to have warm weather again. Perhaps rain, but that's OK, as the gazebo has a roof. I at least got a picture from the gazebo. The view is still as tranquil as ever. 

The view from the gazebo

While getting the dog food, I stopped into Chapters (Indigo) to browse the magazines. This used to be an enjoyable stop, and of course, I ended up with MANY magazines in the house. 

Many publications have now gone quarterly, and the price is much higher! 

Significant price hike

However, there is one magazine that is still reasonably priced. I think this one still comes out every two months. I've lost track of them as I don't buy many anymore. 

The same price as in years past

Now that we can browse most magazines online at Hoopla or Libby, there is no longer any need to buy a physical copy. This way, you can quickly read it when you get the notification, and if you want something, you can purchase the magazine. 

There are a couple of magazines from the UK, and I have no idea why they always have a "free" template or ruler in each issue. Do people really use those free templates? This one was for cutting a log cabin block. Just use a regular ruler. 

UK magazine

Look at the various prices on this one. Quite a different pricing system from the previous one. 

Prices of a UK magazine

But this was a shock. As I browsed, I spotted this sign. WHAT? That never happens. Are they trying to encourage people to buy? The magazine section was halved some years ago, and I feel that the ones on the shelf are destined for oblivion sometime soon. People aren't just buying magazines like they used to. 

OH - a magazine sale

Not when you can get them from the library for free and not when the content isn't what it used to be. There are so many sources of "free" stuff online that it's become a tough market to compete in. I'll always love magazines. I got hooked on them in my early 20s and never looked back. I dread to think of how much I've spent on them. I did NOT buy anything yesterday as I bought two the day before at a different location, which did NOT have a sale. 

When I walked to the grocery store to get bananas, I had to chuckle at this new sign in the banana department. That is the five stages of ripeness in a banana and what you can do with it in each stage! I like them at ripe, and I can buy 5 or 6 bananas and eat one every day, and they never get to the over-ripe stage. There were very few singles, in case you were wondering! The problem is that people buy bananas and never eat them, so they get very ripe. If you are going to buy something, buy what you will eat! 

The stages of a banana

The origin of all produce is now displayed along with the price. It's sad what is happening, and it affects so many people. We'll get through it, but it seems like a silly waste of resources.

Labels have product origin on them

I walked home through the forest, and I was surprised that the trails weren't clearer than they were. I guess those trees protect the snow from melting pretty well. It was slushy, so there were no issues with ice. But it froze last night, and I will not be walking in the forest with the girls for a while yet. 

The still snow-covered path in the forest

Am I getting any sewing done? Absolutely not! I'm spending a lot of time at the computer in learning mode! I hope to have something to share with you in a day or two. I'm not sure how much time this learning module lasts. But it's so much fun, and I get feedback from the Facebook group!

And now for the final installment of 50 Ways to Keep A Quilter Happy While on Vacation. 3 - 2 - 1. 

Oh, what fun -- can you believe it's 10 years ago that the original Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC was released? I didn't even work as an educator at that time. 

I'm off to spin class, although I seem to have a very itchy eye. However, that's not a reason not to go to spin class! I've eaten my protein bar, so I have to go! 

I have a super story to tell you tomorrow about the past coming back. 

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!

Observations about mental health and the weather

Here's an interesting observation. I had a busy week last week, as have been the last several weeks. It's not so much about being super busy - two 2-hour presentations per day don't fill the day, but there's prep work for each and other bits of life. Usually, one of the two events would be held in the evening. 

While I had three shorter Zooms yesterday, they were more "casual" than during the week, and after 2 PM, the rest of the day was mine. What a huge difference that made in my day! I could actually relax. I could just read, nap, or walk and not have to keep the next appointment in my head. 

Can you imagine how "stressed" parents are when shuttling their children to numerous events every day and into the evening? And then their weekends are filled with activities as well? I'd go mad! Where's the time to recharge? Where's the time to just do nothing? I couldn't cope!

I was supposed to go out for a meeting and dinner later this afternoon (after two casual Zooms this morning), and guess what? I'm bailing! I see an entire afternoon ahead of me, and I will capture it for myself, as the next three weeks are jam-packed. 

I slept well and feel well rested this morning, and that downtime is VITAL to our well-being. So, if you're a parent running around like mad - maybe you're trying to fit too much into the day. And if you feel frazzled, imagine how your kids are coping? 

I can cope with this for a month (only three more weeks, but who is counting?), but to do this daily? I'd be brain-dead within a week, knowing that there is no end to it! 

That little bit of freedom yesterday got me rejuvenated. I did some work in Studio B, which I haven't done in a while. I tidied some areas up and set aside some things to deal with later this afternoon. I have some writing to do and some follow-up emails, but with a clear head, it will be easy. Then I looked at the calendar for the coming week, and most of it is a repeat of what I did last week, so not much new stuff to prep! And the coming weekend is relatively empty. Yeah!!!!!

Another observation and it's about the weather. As people get more experienced in life, there is less and less to keep them occupied, so they watch the weather channels. I never understood the purpose of that. Especially if you're going to be staying at home. Do you care that it's going to start raining at 3:05 PM? Some people watch multiple sources of weather. Oh boy! 

I don't think I've ever watched the radar; even if I did, I doubt I could decipher it. Why? Most of the information is not essential to the average Joe. I check the temperature before I go outside to know if I need extra layers. I look outside to see if it's raining because I'll take an umbrella or a rain jacket. But otherwise? 

Wait - that's a lie - I look at the forecast for the week, which changes hourly (or so it seems), to see if we're getting warm or cold weather. It's important to me because I spend 2 to 3 and sometimes more hours outside each day. And I would like to know if we'll see the sun! 

When I listen, two weather-related things about my radio station drive me mad. First, the morning announcer always announces the WIND CHILL as the temperature. That is NOT the temperature, and for those who just leave the house and pop in their car, what do they care? Say the temperature and then say the windchill. Or are they just trying to dumb that down, as people don't understand what wind chill is? I wonder if, in the summer, they'll ignore the temperature and just mention the "feels like" with the humidity. 

The second thing they have started to do is say the "guaranteed" high is 5. What does that mean? And why is it important? We have no idea that it could reach 5 for 30 minutes at 2 PM or 5 PM - so why is that such a big deal? And what happens if it doesn't? Do we get a refund on the day because the temperature did not reach the guaranteed high? 

I have no idea what the world is coming to, but some of these "new" behaviors are the most bizarre and don't make sense! 

I just hope the slippery sidewalks are a thing of the past for this year. They have been decent for the last two days, so that is good as Murphy and Lexi do not really get the concept of slippery sidewalks, and therefore, we need to take a bit more caution! 

When I went for a walk in the afternoon, I felt guilty as I looked at the two of them, so they each got a walk in the afternoon. I told Lexi (in earshot of DH) that if DH came, we could all go at the same time. Alas, Lexi had to wait. 

Speaking of walks, Murphy is completely confused. She insists on going first, and if I take Lexi first, Murphy will bark her head off so that even if she's in the house, I'm sure the entire neighborhood can hear her. So she goes first, then I come back and walk Lexi. This happens when I arrive back in the house and am ready to take my jacket off. 

MOM - I haven't been for my walk yet! 

Yep - she's waiting at the door for her walk. Ah, Murphy? We've already been - have you forgotten? 

So, we've barely seen a bird in the backyard all winter. No idea why, but yesterday, with the nicer weather, Mr and Mrs Cardinal were there. 

Mrs. Cardinal

Mr. Cardinal

And a squirrel is hanging out on a limb that overhangs the backyard. The squirrels do NOT bother my suet feeder. It wasn't cheap, but it's definitely squirrel-proof. It's so sensitive that the squirrels can't get a thing from it. I hope it's not so sensitive that the birds also have trouble getting to the suet. But the Cardinals seemed to enjoy it yesterday, and I thought I saw a chickadee as well. 

Squirrel hanging out in the tree

And Miss Murphy was enjoying the sunshine on the upper deck in the backyard. You have to appreciate the power of the sun. Not only does it melt the snow and dry up the wet, but the temperature difference between the sun and the shadows is incredible! I LOVE the sun, and I think we have a reasonably sunny week ahead of it - at least, that's what it looks like this morning. 

Mom - soaking up the rays

Speaking of the power of the sun, it's going to take a LONG time for the sun to deal with this pile of snow at the restaurant. When I drove into the parking lot last night, a good portion of the parking spots are taken up with the mound. It's now ice! It's wide and high! We were chatting with the manager last night, and he had a video of someone skiing down it. Yep - some guy came with his skies when it was "snow" and skied down the slope. Hilarious!

Snow in the parking lot

Back to some quilting stuff - I have completed three blocks for my Chatsworth quilt and only nine more to finish. I have one of twelve of the flying geese blocks done. Everything is cut, so it shouldn't take too long to get that all together. I have until the first week in May to complete it. I should be able to manage that, considering there aren't many events in April. 

Chatsworth blocks

I have some personal projects to work on starting March 31 - two challenges to finish, some quilt tops to complete, some class work for classes I'm following, lots of quilts to quilt, and so much more. 

In my tidying process, I found a bunch of half-square triangles that I used as enders and leaders. They needed to be pressed, so that is done. 

Pressing the half-square triangles

Ready for trimming

And I've left them on the cutting table, so I'll tackle a few each time I pass by. Every little bit of tidying is just one step closer to tranquility. And I'll get back to what it was. The samples will be put away as I finish with each of the Quilting Topics for March. It's a challenge to sew anything when I have one of the two machines I use in the film area, although I've been known to sew there. 

Hmm -- I should get my retreat sewing machine out and then leave both machines in that area. It would make more sense. DUH!!!!!!

We are getting down to the final posts of 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation. Here's the next installment. 14 - 13 - 12 -11   Oh my gosh -- that was such a great summer! How can I ever repeat that? 

Well, it's time to get the day started. I have two presentations this morning, and both are ready to go. I got some sewing done, which I'll share tomorrow. Do you know what? Life is good, and everything is going to be OK. 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement in the fight to stay "young." It's not so much the fight to stay young as to keep the body in decent enough shape to enjoy the rest of our days as independently as possible. Consider how much cheaper "old age" will be if we don't require help or medication. Plus, our families will love us even more since we will be less of a burden to them. 

Now, I get that some things can't be controlled by diet or exercise, but whatever is in our control? We need to do whatever is possible to stay on top of that. This does NOT have to be rocket science, nor does it require a membership at the gym or even leaving your house. A few simple stretches, standing and sitting down, or getting up and moving. Find some stairs to climb. Keep moving! 

Did you know that the human body has about 600 muscles? Wow - and all of them are there for a reason. So get started! I'm sure there are many videos out there that can help. 

This is one that Elle left in the comments. I have not had a chance to watch it, but it's a lecture called "Lifespan - Why we age, and why we don't have to."  I'm going to watch it later. We can't stop the clock, but we definitely control many factors in how our bodies age. 

I was looking for a new book to read and went back to the book lists from The Globe and Mail. I know - I have many on my reading lists. Anyway, the columnist mentioned two books that were each part of a different series, and of course, I must read the book series from the beginning. What did I pick? Kate Atkinson - Case Histories. As I read, I got the feeling that I knew this story. I remember the Blue Mouse. 

So I looked back in my lists of books I read (all digital, so it's easy to find), and there it is! I read this book at the end of 2018. So, while the storyline is familiar, I don't remember all the details. Guess what? I'm going to continue to read! And then I can pick up the rest of the series! At least the storyline tweaked my memory! 

The events for the week are done! I survived! And the three presentations for today are mostly done. I have a few pictures to add to one. Amazing how one can pull stuff together when there is a time crunch. Last night, I had one lady who commented on all my "camera work" and appreciated the effort. She got to see the stuff much better than if she were in person. Yes - I would agree with her as we look at the quilting stitches in close detail. I wish I had another camera, but it just means I must move one of them around. No big deal. 

Then I have the afternoon "off" and will try to get this coming week straightened out and maybe even get some writing done. And let's not forget to keep on top of that paperwork! 

It was time to stock up on boring but necessary supplies, so I was off on a car errand. Yep - it's time to stock up on batting, and there are three rolls already downstairs and two more in the car! Thank goodness for a bigger vehicle that I can get that much in there. I had enough room to put one or two more rolls in the back! Those are beige color, by the way - the light makes them look pink!

Rolls of batting

And a couple of bolts of boring interfacing, but necessary for some upcoming projects. I like to buy this by the bolt as I go through lots of it for various projects. 

Bolts of interfacing

It was such a beautiful afternoon that Murphy and I sat on the front step for a bit when I returned. All she wants is to go in the car in the afternoon. She was NOT impressed when I tied her leash to the stair railing. 

MOM - I want to be free!

And she was all over the place when I tried to get a picture of us! Oh, Murphy! I was almost tempted to remove the bit of snow remaining on the front patio, but I did not. Usually, I shovel all that snow off the day after it falls, but there was so much that I did not do that. We have some days above zero this week. I don't think there's any need to shovel, and I may just dig a chair out! 

Murphy and I enjoying the sun

Then she and Lexi were in the backyard, and it looked like she found some dirt to dig in. She just has to be busy! Probably unearthed her bone and moved it to a new spot. At least her nose didn't get rubbed raw this time. 

Mom - I was digging!

Even the snow in the backyard, which doesn't receive full sun - at least on the deck, is fast disappearing after a few mild days. By the end of the week, I suspect most of it will be gone! 

MOM - the snow is disappearing

Then, I told the girls that Dad was going to be home later in the day, and of course, they were freaking out. They do not like it when he's away. They are so spoiled that we are both home a good part of the time, although DH is on the road a bit more these days. 

Lexi was leaning against the dog bed but does not like getting in it. Why? Does she think Murphy will bully her? Probably. So I lifted her up and put her there. OK - she does NOT look comfortable. Murphy was freaking out, but I ignored her, which drove her mad. 

Mom - Murphy is going to beat me up!

Lexi didn't stay long, but I wish she would push back on Murphy more! 

When I browse a quilt magazine, I dog ear the corner to flag there is something I want on that page. OK - can you tell me why this one has a dog ear? 

Flagged because?

It's just ads for things and nothing that I think is interesting. I checked the page's other side to find some interesting quilt artists and their quilts. That must be why I flagged it, but I usually put the dog ear in the opposite direction. 

Here's the latest installment of 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation (18 - 17 - 16 - 15). Today, the quilt store is Stitcharie in Petrolia! Hello to Laurie and the gang! I have not been to the new location, so I must get down that way!

And on that happy note, it's time to get moving! A lot needs to be accomplished today, and the girls are anxiously awaiting their turn to walk! I swear that the only reason they hang around me is for that walk! 

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!

Taking care of our physical and mental health

Brooke (personal trainer) couldn't be at the gym this morning. That presented a BIG dilemma. Do I just say I'll pass this week and perhaps do some stretching at home, or do I get my butt up and go to the gym? 

Well, I went to the gym! While I may have been in great shape and somewhat flexible years ago, that has slowly disappeared. I needed to sit down to put my shoes on; I could barely get myself out of bed. Walking downstairs was becoming troublesome, getting up off the floor - totally unelegant. None of those issues were terrible - I was not at the point where I needed assistance by any means, but one day, and I'm not sure what day that was, I realized that if I continue to let my body slide, I'm going to be very old before my time. 

That did not sit well with me. I want to maintain my independence for as long as I can, and so it's up to me to do something about it. 

Within a very short time, I can easily sit down, stand up with no issues, and put my shoes on while standing (GASP!); stairs (always cautious) are so much easier. Yes - I have problems with my knees, but I swear the issues are more related to muscles than they are tendons and joints. However, I have to be realistic and know that I have a torn meniscus, so that's not fun. 

So, with a little bit of effort on my part, I am recovering my mobility and my flexibility. I am going to conquer old age. OK - so that won't happen, but I'm trying to age gracefully. I must confess that I feel fantastic this morning, and all I did was lift some weights and stretch. OH - then I used the HydraMassage bed. 

Friday morning at the gym, with or without Brooke, needs to become part of my schedule. 

But while I was there, I glanced around. The gym isn't busy at 5:00 AM, but there were people. It's shocking how many people (everyone) carry their phones with them. Some people have their exercise routine on it, and that's OK. But the number of people texting, searching, or whatever they were doing was crazy. I understand life happens, but can you not leave the phone alone? 

Here's my observation. You do a set of weights. You need to wait 30 seconds before you do the second set. OK - there's 30 seconds - let me get on my phone. Seriously? Do people not allow their brains to be "bored" for even 30 seconds? Then we wonder why people are stressed - leave the phones alone! Allow yourself some absolute quiet downtime. 

Everyone is feeling pressured to be in constant contact with their peers. You don't have to - let people sit and wait. I don't get it. 

The number of reels that are popping up is getting obscene - half of them are fake. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but how many car crashes do we need to witness? How many incidents of road rage? It's all too much! I'm trying to stay away from social media just because. I hardly post these days, but I keep an eye on the feeds, mainly to see what's happening with friends and family. 

I confess I'm getting bored of following people renovating their houses, doing crazy things, or making cute dog videos. I watch some of them but don't have the time or mental capacity to "follow" them. 

Having said that about the phone, I finished my ebook (The Plot) yesterday. OH -- what an ending. Now I have to get The Sequel. Justice? Will there be justice? 

An exciting week of presentations, and it's not over yet! I played with one of my cameras and added an extra cable, and now all of them, except the computer, are running off this box. 

My magic box

I only play with those big buttons on the bottom, marked 1, 2, 3,4. The rest? I've no idea what they do. But the entire process is so slick. Cables and wires are everywhere, but no one can see them on the camera, and that's all that counts. I can get close up and personal with every stitch with the various settings, and I swear that the participants are getting a much better show than if they were in person. They would never be able to see the detail like they can on the cameras. 

This month is all about quilting, and if you want to see me in action, let me know or check out a local Canadian Husqvarna Viking or PFAFF dealer to see if they offer any events. 

Speaking of technology, I dug out my WACOM tablet, which I bought a while ago. I have a use for it, so I've plugged it in, and it doesn't seem to be charging. Of course, there are no instructions, so I must go online to find the User's Guide. 

The WACOM tablet

As for the paperwork, I've spent several hours each day trying to get on top of it. Dare I say there is a light at the end of the tunnel? I feel under control. I might even be able to start working on some of the stuff that has gotten shuffled around for longer than it should! 

I'm trying to put notes in my calendar for things I need to remember, my filing system for things that I need for my presentations is super organized and I can quickly find any of the materials I need. No time wasted searching for things. All is good!

One of the three presentations for the weekend is complete! The second one is partially together, while the third will require a lot of work! So, guess what? It's going to be another busy day! But I will forego any paperwork to get those presentations in order this morning, which is technically paperwork! 

All I need now is some time to sew! Then life would be grand! But March is filled with other things, and I'll do what I can! 

Try, if you can, to work some downtime into your calendar! I do - if I don't get my eight hours of sleep, I NEED a nap, so I just take the time and have a nap. It makes me feel better, and I'm ready to go! I always set a timer so I won't sleep for hours and mess up my entire day! That would be bad! 

Stay off your phone! Get bored! Stay bored. Do some squats and just enjoy life for what it is. We only have one chance at this, and I want to enjoy MY life, not the life that someone else wants to share with me or show me (as on social media!). 

Yesterday, the sidewalks were treacherous when I walked the girls. I questioned why I was even out there. When I went to the grocery store in the afternoon (FYI - lots of single bananas, which I bought), they had improved considerably! I think we'll be good this morning!

Here is the next installment of 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation. 22 - 21 - 20 - 19

On that note, I'm out of here!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!

The dawn of machine embroidery

Regarding yesterday's post about changing needles, I wanted to add something. The "rule of thumb" is to change the needles after 6 - 8 hours of sewing. But what exactly does that mean? Some sewists could be sewing (needle moving up and down, NOT just in the sewing room) 6 - 8 hours in one day. For others, that might be several days or weeks. 

The guideline I use is to wind 4 or 5 bobbins, and when they are done, it's time to change the needle and CLEAN the bobbin case. You'll have to listen to your machine to see if that system works for you, but when you hear that pounding, you know you're past the time to change the needle. 

Film canisters were amazing for safely storing those dead needles, but you can also use an empty pill container or any small container. When it's full, you can toss it. I tried getting a small sharps container from a large drug store, but they were saving them for patients who used lots of needles. So, my small tin works for me. 

More presentations yesterday and more today and tomorrow. Since it's quilting and I have loads of samples to pull from, I don't have to make samples, but I'm still trying to get them all sorted into piles. Of course, I had a helper this morning. 

Mom - just helping you make piles! 

She just plopped herself amongst the piles of stuff! At least she wasn't laying on any samples! 

I have ten topics this month, and I think I have ten piles. I need to go back and do a recount! Some will require a bit more sample pulling and perhaps making a sample or two, but for the most part, it's all together. 

The piles of samples for the presentations

Then, all I need to do is open the link and grab the correct pile. All is good! I'm even managing to get some of the homework prepped for the weekend, and I hope to have TWO of the three presentations for Saturday completed by tonight. 

When we started the Zooms for the "day" job, we mostly did slide presentations, which can be boring. People want to see the real deal or see a live demo. So, I'm good to go with my four cameras and the switch box! It's a challenge sometimes remembering which camera to turn to, but I'm getting pretty good at it. I want to test one other thing out later today. I also have my phone connected to show people the apps. I can share stuff on my screen (software) and link to the internet. Yep - I'm a director as well! 

I finished the audiobook and am almost done with The Plot. This book would be a great one for a book club. Was the main character in the wrong? That's the big question. Someone obviously thought he was, but can you copyright a concept? An idea? A plot? 

I've mentioned before that I'm cleaning up some quilting magazines and going through a stack of random ones. Just odd ones that I picked up from who knows where. This one is small -- about 5" by 8". The date? May/June 1998!!!!

Creative Quilting from 1998

Several things come to mind as I browsed it. There were ads for hand-quilting frames. The ONLY frame you'll ever need. 

Hand quilting frame ad

Ads for ceramic quilt-themed items. OK - how many of you bought these? 

Ads for ceramic quilt-themed items

Let's not forget the calendars that used to keep people on track. These ones do NOT have quilt pictures on them, but they existed! 

Ads for calendars

And who doesn't miss this catalog? This company still exists, but nowhere in the same capacity as it was initially. I never visited that store, but I loved browsing that catalog! 

Ad for Keepsake Quilting

Don't forget the Classified Ads. This was a mix of getting jobs like addressing envelopes by hand at home! Seriously??? Companies that sold fabric (velvet) by the pound, quilting, buying squares, and many other things. Remember the section, Quilt Shows? 

Quilting Classifieds

Let's not forget the ad for TV Satellite. I guess this was a precursor to the filler booths you find at trade shows. 

An ad for satellite TV? In a quilt magazine?

There was also a marketplace selling tchotchkes. My mom would be ordering two of everything! 

The marketplace

Why did I read this magazine? I found this tidbit in the editor's comments at the beginning, which made it worth the effort to go through. Remember, this is 1998. 




OH MY GOODNESS --- the "introduction" of the embroidery attachment into the quilt world. Several months after this issue was published, I bought my HV Designer 1, the top-of-the-line embroidery machine. I would have LOVED to see the quilts that were submitted. 

Here's the last paragraph in that editor's letter. 

Like any advancement in other fields, what we can do now with an embroidery machine would blow our 1998 minds! 

I just had a quick peek on eBay and spotted this magazine with dates as early as 1988. There were a few issues later in the year (1998) than the one I had, but with the delay in publishing times, I doubt any of them had machine embroidery. That's OK - I have books that date back that far, so I know what the designs were like! NOTHING like today!

That was a neat blast from the past, but the magazine is now safely stowed in the recycling bin and onto the next one! I'm slow, but I'm OK with that. 

So here's the next installment of the 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation. 26 - 25 - 24 -23  Enjoy!

Oh - I just want to mention that after my spin class yesterday and every spin class since I started my new routine. I finish the class, go to the main workout area, and stretch for 15 minutes! Yeah me!! I must say that I don't feel as stiff as I used to, so that's all good. And with another price increase, I better get to that gym and stay longer to get my money's worth!!

And on that note, I'm out of here. I've got pictures to edit, PowerPoints to prep, emails to send, and set up for the next "live" presentation. Another busy day!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Myth buster - needles!!

Dare I say that I feel the paperwork is finally under control? That is so untrue, but I can breathe a bit, except for a few events that need rescheduling. There is still so much to take care of, and more writing looms on the horizon, but the pile looks neater and smaller!

I had more presentations yesterday—that is the story of my life these days. I love presenting, so it all works for me. 

However, I also feel like I'm a myth-buster these days. Some of the questions I get sort of blow my socks off. So when I saw this question in the Zoom chat room, I had to keep myself under control. 

The person referred to themselves as old-school and cheap. Why couldn't they use a needle until it broke? 

GASP - CHOKE! 

Here's the thing - this was a myth, and she's absolutely right that this is old school. I know this person is not alone in their thoughts. I've seen it in almost every class I've taught for 20+ years that people do not know about needles. 

Rather than stealing a photo from the internet, check out this link to see a picture of a needle past its prime. That is not FAKE -- that is what happens after continued use. Think about the METAL knives in your kitchen. They get dull and are hard to work with. That's the same thing for a sewing machine needle. 

And as for the cost? Needles are not cheap, but they are not expensive, considering other expenses associated with your project. And if you find you're using the same type and size of needle regularly, they can be purchased in packs of 100 to save money. In the SVP World, bulk needles can be bought for Universal 12 and 14 and Embroidery 12 and 14. Ask your sewing machine dealer how to get bulk packs of needles. 

This week, I've been focusing on free motion quilting, which requires that people practice. That means taking some batting scraps, as well as scraps of fabric, and doing some stitching. No one asked me this week, but I've heard this in the past. They do NOT want to waste fabric by making a sample or for practicing. They could NOT just make a sample - everything this person made had to have a purpose. 

Seriously? What a mindset. So, I ask people to reflect on their children's education. Did they send their kids to university? How much does one year of tuition cost? How much does one textbook cost? 

Now think about how much a meter of muslin costs, scraps of batting, and a new needle? Significantly less than a textbook. And most people have all those supplies in their house!

Practicing anything is education; practicing free-motion quilting is the only way to improve. I'm the only teacher encouraging people to practice stitching straight lines in free-motion quilting. I've never seen it anywhere, but it makes so much sense and will give people confidence. There are loads of reasons for that. 

So, I encourage people who can't waste anything to make small practice pieces, serge the edges, and donate the pieces to animal shelters. Shelters always need small mats for cats and larger ones for dogs. You know how our pets are attracted to quilts. They certainly don't care if the stitching looks wonky—they just love a quilt!

Here's something else to consider. People worry about the cost of needles, but I bet they have zero problems going into a store and buying a couple of meters of fabric. So the next time you are in a shop and nothing interesting peaks your interest (as if!), consider adding to your needle stash. Having extras means you'll never cheap out on the needles. 

I keep all my personal use needles in a metal tin, along with a screwdriver to change the needle and a smaller container to dispose of the dead needles. Cause they are DEAD! 

I'm sorry, but I don't have pictures of my needle tin. As I scrounged for something to write about this morning, this topic popped into my head. 

Here's another way to think about needles. If your husband is into woodworking - would he dare cut something with a dull saw blade? 

Unfortunately, many quilters think they are saving money by going to the dollar store to buy cheap tools or supplies rather than the proper ones. They think they can get away without that tool, without changing it, or using something even if it doesn't work properly. One person asked if they could use paper instead of a stabilizer for machine embroidery. NO—just NO! 

This is your hobby—you want to enjoy it—but sometimes, having a hobby means "wasting" a bit of stuff and time to get better. If you're a runner, you train to be faster; if you're a chef, you try new recipes to be successful. It's the same for quilting! Practicing, failing, and finding a new way are part of the journey!! And instead of always spending your money on fabric, buy good supplies!

And that's all I'm going to say about that! I managed to get the outer border on one block for Chatsworth. I have TEN more blocks to finish. 

One Chatsworth block

I got this far on the next one but ran out of time. I was going to finish it once I finished my last call of the day, but by then, it was "late" in the evening, I hadn't finished my dinner, and I was done! I shut everything off and went to read! 

Working on another block for Chatsworth

I returned to the audiobook and listened to the part I was confused about. OK - so all is good on that point. As for The Plot? The plot thickens. Who is the antagonist? I won't finish either today, but I'm making good progress. OH CRAP -- I just checked the internet as there is a sequel to The Plot, and well, I know who the antagonist is, and it's who I thought it was. Well, that's OK. I had figured that out but didn't think it would be that obvious. 

Here's the next installment of 50 Wayt to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation. Enjoy! Numbers 30 - 29- 28 - 27

Well, I'm off to spin class, so I'd better organize myself. Today is all about more sewing, paperwork, a meeting, and presentations—another typical day in March. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Co-conspirators!

 It's funny how the days just seem to jumble together. It's almost like Ground Hog Day when the same things happen repeatedly! I am somewhat "chained" to the house because of those presentations. They are all over the schedule, so I must watch the clock. But all is good! I had two presentations yesterday, and both went well. I'm back in the groove for the new topics, although I still have some samples and supplies to organize. 

Guess what I did with my "free" time this morning? I sorted and organized, and every little bit made me feel more under control. It's all going to happen. I will feel a lot better once I have the rest of the supplies and samples sorted for the other topics. 

This was the mess I left when I finished the first presentation. I had too much stuff, and some had fallen to the floor. I couldn't find a thing. 

What a mess! 

It's since been culled and sorted, and the second one went much smoother. I tidied up the area this morning and am ready for the next presentation later today. I got a chuckle while I was presenting yesterday, as the LOW battery alert came on my iPad, which I use as a monitor to see what the participants can see. I had 10% left. OH - I don't think I have enough power to make the end. I'm not sure why it had got unplugged. But luckily, the power cord was hanging there, and I could quickly get it plugged in and continued as if nothing had happened! 

The next presentation is ready to go! 

I have some sewing to do this morning, so I had to clear a spot so that could happen. Thread boxes were removed from the table and put away, thread ends were placed in the garbage, and presser feet were returned to their appropriate boxes. Bags of needles are back where they belong, and the extra quilts are waiting to be taken upstairs. Oh yes, it was a good tidying-up session. 

This is the result of my embroidery session last week, and those are in a bag to be donated. 

Empty spools and bobbins

Then, I tackled more of Diane's stuff I had brought into the house. I found two more quilt tops and put them in the storage room. I'm trying to deal with all the odds and ends as that is the hardest to find homes for. The fabric will be easy to deal with when I get to it. There are four boxes with scraps, and there may be one more bag of odds and ends. But slow and steady, it'll all be dealt with. 

Two quilt tops

I found numerous yardage pieces that will work for quilt backings. They are measured, labeled, and stored in the storage room. More fabrics were added to this pile, but I guess I didn't take a picture of all of them. I think I found six that were over two yards long. 

Fabric for quilt backings

There are some rogue fabrics, some scraps, and three project bags still to sort through, but those will have to wait for another day. I've done what I can at the moment. I need to get back to prepping for the weekend classes. 

I'm making good progress on the audiobook, although there seemed to be too many characters floating around all at once, and I may have missed something. The bottom line is it's all about scandal with the family. What else is new? 

Then, I went back to reading The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Apparently, this is a hot-selling book, but I struggled with the first part. Just too much whining, and I did NOT like the character. The bottom line is that I should be able to finish all the books I had out and let lapse last time. So that is good. Then I'll probably put the reading aside, although it's a good activity to do in the evening. 

The second I head to the living room for peace and quiet, guess who follows me? Yep -- both of them. And I didn't quite catch it, but the two of them had their heads together in the corner, and their tails wagged furiously. They looked like co-conspirators for some mischief!

Mom - NOTHING going on here! 

Ah - the fun and games those two come up with! You never know, and Murphy has developed some strange behaviors. She sometimes comes down and harasses me when I'm on a call, but not too often. I have to ignore her, which she doesn't like. So now there are times when I go upstairs from the main floor, and she goes downstairs. It's as if she goes to see if I left anything for her. Or she's mad!

I hope you are enjoying the 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation series! It was so much fun and hard to repeat. I have to laugh as it was originally written ten years ago, and some things, like using a GPS, are pretty outdated! Or searching for a magazine in a store. While magazines still exist, they are getting fewer and far between. 

Here's the following link. 33 - 32- 31-30

I have some paperwork this morning, but I'm giving myself one hour to finish as much as possible. Then I need to get downstairs and sew! 

The temperature is above zero this morning, but it will likely be chilly because of the dampness, as we expect rain. Before we know it, all that snow will have disappeared! 

On that happy note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!! (squat, squat!)

Ciao!!!!