On making a journal

Well, the whirlwind that is my life is ramping up! And we talked about the "next week" syndrome yesterday. "It'll be quieter next week - I just need to get through this week." Well, that quiet next week never seems to arrive! But it's all fun, and I love what I do, making the chaotic schedule much more doable!

However, I'm at a retreat, yet I'm not at a retreat. I'm at home this morning. I swear DH looks at my calendar and says -- "oh, DW is away this week, so I should go on a trip!" Because I don't know how many times it happens that I'm away, and he needs to be away as well. Since he earns a bit more than I do, I must accommodate! 

Thankfully, he was away just for one day, and my retreat was close. So, I made dinner for the ladies at the retreat and came home. Let's say the girls and the boy were happy to see me when I arrived. And they were pretty upfront that waiting two hours for dinner is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Oh, those silly dogs. 

Chilling out after dinner

But after they were fed and had gone out, and I had dinner, we settled in the living room to enjoy the evening together. It's hard to see, but the little guy is in the big dog bed in the window. Of course, you can see the pretty fluffy dog on the floor and Lexi in the big bed. 

She loved that bed when it was beside the sofa in the family room, but now she prefers the couch. So I moved that bed to the living room, and now she sleeps in it more than on the couch. Oh, Lexi!!!!

Thankfully, the roads were clear and dry last night, and I made good time to get home. The weather should be good today because I'm going back! Even though today is checkout day, I'm still working on my project, and I can get in about 3 hours of work before we have to pack up. Yep -- it's worth it for me. 

I get to spend more time with friends, and everything is laid out with lots of available supplies. It's definitely worth it. Besides, I gave someone a lift, and she needs to come home with me! 

It's all in how you look at it. One must be flexible, and I'm certainly flexible. 

Our instructor is a journal-maker extraordinaire. She has gone above and beyond in making the supplies available to us (we paid a kit fee). I'm not sure I'd want people rooting through my tools and supplies like she has given us the freedom to do. THANK YOU!!!!

If I ever organize this workshop again, you should RUN to sign up because it's been absolutely amazing. We've had so much fun, and making the journals was incredible. It was a pleasure to work on something other than quilting. OK, we did some sewing (on paper) and used fabric in the journals, but it was a fantastic experience. SUPER CREATIVE!!!!

I might just offer it again if there is enough interest. WAIT -- I'll show you some of what we're doing. I don't have any sample pictures, but I'll share my book tomorrow, and then you can decide. I have some retreat days booked for 2025, and I might just play with those dates! 

I love how organized our instructor is --- brushes are labeled! 

Everything is labelled

I'm working on a piece of art to put in the middle of my book. I must confess that this mixed media art will take me many tries. When I do this, I'm very linear. And while there is nothing wrong with linear, I'd like to be a bit more NON-linear. For me, doing this kind of stuff is like learning to quilt all over again. I'm OK at it, but I would like to be better. 

Making mixed-media art

So what does that mean I have to do? PRACTISE. Make MISTAKES and learn by doing. Yep!!! And I'm excited to give it a whirl. 

Playing with fun stuff!

Now, to confess, I have a whole area in Studio B dedicated to scrapbooking stuff -- basically the same supplies we use to make our journals. But I never seem to get to them, even though they are pretty nicely organized. And we talked about having smaller sessions where we could just sit down and paint and make tags, pockets, and all kinds of cool things. 

Someone suggested that I convert Studio U to a scrapbooking area. ACK!!! I never thought of that, but wow -- wouldn't that be cool. I'd love to spend more time in that room since it's got this gorgeous big window, although it doesn't have good Wi-Fi access. That might be a good thing! Well, that's something to contemplate, and I'll look at all the stuff in Studio B to see how I could make that happen. 

Does anyone have this book? I bought mine many years ago when I was taking Home Ec (sewing). The cover was getting pretty crappy. So, with the help of an extra pair of hands, we put Mactac on the cover. It's not perfect by any means, but it works, and now the cover is more protected than it was!!!

My "new" sewing book

I have tried ONE MORE TIME to get those dreaded distribution lists correct. I see that I had people's OLD e-mails on some of the lists, and I have forgotten some people. How did that happen? I swear I checked and rechecked the lists. 

Thank goodness there are only six, or I'd go mad. I'm going mad about it as it is. I resent the TWO UFO groups this morning, so hopefully, everyone on the list got the e-mail. I also updated the Machine Embroidery list, and a confirmation went out this morning. PLEASE let me know (you have all been so patient) if you didn't get any of those and you were supposed to. 

And a gentle reminder to anyone who has a question. I have zero problems answering a question - as a matter of fact, I love questions. And no question is too silly. But I must know what you are talking about! If it's sketchy, take a picture, send it to me, and then ask the question. I can't read minds and figure out what you are doing. This does NOT happen often, but it does, and I just scratch my head! It also requires many back-and-forth e-mails, which would be unnecessary if I got a picture. I'm good with pictures!

And here it is -- according to Google Maps, here are all the places I visited last year. Coast to coast in Canada, with multiple stops along the way. Once down to Florida and then to Europe for a month. 

2023 travel in a nutshell

Who knows what this year will bring? 

Despite the subject, I'm enjoying The Escape Artist (about the concentration camps during the war). What I find fascinating about it is how so many people survived, particularly this young man. When you read it, you can see why he was different. Did he have faith? It wasn't his time? Or did he have a purpose and was determined to live to fulfill his purpose? 

On a smaller and less dramatic scale, that's our lives. Especially people who are retired. What is our purpose EACH DAY? Do we have a goal? If we don't, what drives us? What motivates us to keep going? 

It's also interesting to read this book about how "friends" helped each other. It is hard to succeed on your own; people are usually behind you. That's the same with our lives. Yes, we could live independently, but it makes life more exciting and fun when someone has your back. Someone to talk to and lend a pair of hands (like fixing my book cover). We CANNOT survive alone. 

I think that book would be an excellent read (and discussion) in our schools today. ACK! God forbid we talk about history, but this kind of history is important. Well, all types of history are important, but knowing what happened and how people got the will to survive --- we need those kinds of discussions in our society today. Those prisoners had life-threatening struggles -- what we experience today is nothing. 

For some reason, I think I would like to visit the site. I know that sounds morbid, but the emotions of this event are so strong. I'll always remember my visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam or the exhibits at the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. We cannot let history repeat itself - at least not on this one. 

Well, enough about that today. Sorry, I get carried away. I have ZERO connection to this part of history, yet it's a very compelling story. 

I'm off to get the girls and the boy ready for their half-day home alone while I return to the retreat to finish my journal!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

The red car society!

OH, OH, OH -- I see more book recommendations. I've added a few to the list but will review the rest of the comments tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for that --- it's fun to read, and expanding the genres I read has been one of the best things. It just goes to say that we can learn from others. 

I can't remember what I said about the quilt history story, but I will research it more, so you'll have to wait for that. 

In light of that research, I'm appealing to someone on the last Virtual Retreat call. Someone mentioned a podcast that I swear Latifah Saafir was part of. I believe there were four people interviewed on that podcast. I should have paid more attention to the name but didn't. So, if you were the one who mentioned it, please send me a comment or a note about the podcast title. Thanks in advance for that. 

I've tried to Google it, but Latifah has been in many podcasts, and I want this specific one. 

OK -- so, what the heck is happening to my email? I know certain people are on my distribution lists, but they have searched their email and CANNOT find mine. What's with that? I know a few of you emailed me yesterday, and when I'm home (yes -- I'm away this morning), I'll double-check and get everything organized. 

This has definitely been a nightmare, to be sure. But I think I'm down to about 5 people I still need to connect with - maybe their email changed, and I'm working with the old ones. I'll get it together. 

So bear with me, and thanks for your patience as I work through the issues. 

So yes --- I'm not home! I've snuck away for a mini-retreat. It's not a quilting retreat but a journal-making retreat, and OH, what fun we are having. 

It could have been a better day to travel since it was the first icky weather for travel with snow and rain. But -- we are Canadians, and it was NOT a blizzard, so it really wasn't that bad. It wasn't the weather that delayed our trip -- it was a significant accident on the 401 that delayed us by 40 minutes. I know - a 40-minute delay on a journey that is only 60 minutes. We detoured while several others got stuck on the highway, and it took them 60 minutes to go 3 km. 

People -- I get that accidents happen, but PLEASE pay attention to the road, the weather, and the distance between you and the next car. Slow down, winter tires, and all that good stuff. It just made a mess of everyone's travel day! 

But there was REALLY good news for the day! We figured out how to access the radio in the car!

Yep -- someone had told me what to do, but I couldn't figure it out when I tried it by myself. But, when I was talking myself through it with someone else in the car, there was the answer. And honestly, it couldn't have been more simple. 

There were TWO options on the screen -- RADIO or PHONE. I missed that the first time. I should take a picture because it's pretty big, and there's nothing else on the screen. Well, it doesn't matter -- it works!!! That only took six weeks to figure out! 

I think I have one other thing to figure out, and then I'm good. I need to dim the navigation screen for night driving, and I found the setting. I swear I've set it, but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try it again later today. 

So there are five cars -- OK -- let me rephrase that -- five SUVs at the retreat, and four of the five are red. Now, with almost ALL cars on the road these days being white, grey, or black -- what are the chances of that? The fifth car is green, so we're feeling quite festive!!! Are people who do not buy a white, grey, or black car more creative than the others? I think so! 

The red SUV parking lot

So -- here we are at Springhouse Retreat, and this morning, it's warm - 3 degrees, but I can hear the wind whistling around the house! 

We are all in love with this retreat house, and what will we do if they are ever close because, inevitably, they will. But lets hope, not for a very long time! 

Journal making!!

So, in a room generally covered with fabric and sewing machines, it's now covered (and I mean covered) with paints, dyes, paper, and MANY mixed media stuff. I'm so excited by the entire process. Even if I'm not the best student. WAIT -- you could misconstrue that sentence above. The tables are filled with containers of paint and dye -- we have NOT split a drop on any surfaces! 

I brought lots of goodies from that suitcase and incorporated a few of them into my journal. 

My workstation

I did bring my sewing machine, so we have two machines, as we're doing a lot of stitching on the paper. I got carried away and did a lot of stitching. But what fun!!!!

Stitching my journal cover together

The journals we're making are called junk journals, but made with various types of paper, laces, and well -- it's hard to describe, but there is lots of stuff that goes into one of these journals. And it's incredible how just a little bit of paint can turn the whole thing into something gorgeous. 

The edges of my journal cover

I've tinted the edges of my book, so I left it to dry overnight, and today, we get to do something else! I can't wait to get started. 

Then we did something different last night; we all sat around and talked!!! Yep --- we didn't watch TV or play games. We actually talked to EACH OTHER - face to face! How cool is that? It was awesome to be together and just chat. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening almost as much as the journal-making in the day! 

That's what makes any kind of retreat so much fun!!!

It was garbage day in my neighborhood, so while I was walking the girls and a boy in the morning, I spotted this at the end of my street. So many people have this kind of sideboard in their house. They are so NOT wanted by anyone, and this is what happens to them. They sit on the side of the street, and the garbage truck comes by and picks them up!

I don't know that anyone would want this sideboard, but someone could have used the base as a dresser. And I see another neighbor of mine who left a dresser out. I'm sure those items could be used for people arriving from another country who have nothing. I could be wrong about that. But try to sell this stuff? No one wants to buy it!

Sideboard out for garbage pickup

It was fun this time at the retreat as we each got our own room -- no sharing! That doesn't happen very often, but I'm OK with it. I was toasty warm by myself in the basement! 

As usual, I'm up early, and well, I'm not sure I will walk today as the roads are probably wet, and I need BOOTS, which I didn't bring. I need new rain boots as the heel is split on my current pair, and I think my other Merrel boots are now too small. Time to cull the boots and get something that fits properly. 

On that note, I'm out of here. I have some emails that NEED to be answered today. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Getting organized!

It was another late night, but only because I was outside for most of the afternoon. It was too nice to be inside, and I'd rather take advantage of the fantastic weather! 

We had a great time at Monday sewing, and it's been a while since I haven't had to zip out prematurely because of a work commitment. I got to stay until the end! 

Lots of stuff happened in Studio B, and I knew, with all my tidying, a couple of scenarios would arise - not being able to find something and refining already sorted areas. 

For the most part, everything has a home, making it super simple to tidy up! However, several almost-finished things are hanging around, and I hope to get to work on those. I bet, in many cases, that ONE hour on each project and it would be done! So I will try and work on those in the next couple of weeks, in ADDITION to everything else I need to get done. 

In my efficiency of tidying, I could NOT find a few things. So while I was quilting, I was determined to find them. What was missing? Stuff for the serger! I was missing feet that I was sure I had received. I had samples that had gone astray and a couple of projects that needed to be serged. Where could they be? 

AHA -- I found everything. They were in a tub under the long, and it was LABELED, no less, but I had forgotten that I put the stuff there. 

The tub of serger stuff

I must move the tub to the first spot I looked at yesterday. It's OK under the long arm -- it's just on the wrong side! 

And guess what? I found the missing cover stitch hemmer that I swore I already had, but now I have two. One will be returned. 

Two cover stitch hemmers

I found all my samples and many more feet for a different serger and more duplicate feet. It really needs to be sorted and neatened up, so that is on the agenda for today. I also found serger thread in the tub, which has a home, and it's not in this tub. So that resulted in a tidy-up of the serger thread, all stored in one plastic rolling bin. 

Colored serger thread

Decorative serger thread

White serger thread

Grey, cream, and black serger thread

I found the serger projects that need to be finished, and I plan to work on those today, so I have a few more samples for my serger class this week at Hamilton Sewing. I'm also running a lecture on garment sewing techniques, so I'll also be working on a few samples for that. 

Serger projects to finish

And here I am with the tub opened and sorting. 

Sorting through the tub of serger stuff

Even with all the sorting and tidying I've done in the past, some pockets in Studio B still need attention. And that's what I'll be working on when I'm in the mood and have the time, like sorting through the books and this tub of serger stuff. 

I also attacked the Current Projects table -- I mean, how many current projects does one need?

The Current Project table

A few of the projects were moved to the ironing board, where I hope to refine them today. If they can't be done quickly and in the next week, they must find a home on a shelf! 

Projects to sort through

I should resign myself to the fact that the cutting table will likely NEVER be completely clear. As I ended the day and with a few minutes to spare, I put stuff on it in preparation for today

The immediate stuff to work on today

There was ZERO drama when quilting the customer quilt of the day. It's done and needs to be trimmed later today. The other two quilts I quilted earlier this week are trimmed and ready for pickup! The next one is loaded; hopefully, I can work on it this morning rather than late in the evening!

Customer quilt - DONE

But I did cut it close with the bobbin thread. I still had an almost full bobbin and this, so there was more than enough to finish the quilt!

Bobbin thread chicken!

It was HOT yesterday, and I could have worn shorts when I walked in the afternoon! But even in the morning, it was hot, and look at poor Murphy! She can't handle the heat, so she won't be happy for the remainder of this week! 

MOM -- it's HOT!!

But look who I spotted in my pond! A cardinal was having a grand time bathing! What fun to watch him as he sputtered around. 

Cardinal in his larger personal birdbath

And, of course, Murphy was out there with me. However, I had left the door open, and the next thing I knew, an INDOOR toy was outside. 

An indoor toy that is OUTSIDE!

And yes -- it ended up in the pond! She has a fascination with water! 

MOM -- the toy jumped into the pond! Help!

Someone asked me the other day if I had a favorite colorway when making quilts. Hmm -- not really, but I love this quilt's PINK/ORANGE combination. And look, it matches the pink and orange on my sewing machine! 

Binding a quilt

But that quilt got bound, and I met a commitment for this week. 

The quilt is bound!

Remember that I was making a priority list of THREE quilty things per day that needed to be done. I stopped at Indigo on my walk and spotted this in the discount bin. 

A weekly "to-do" list

This will be perfect. I can write the week at the top of the page in the spot indicated. Then in the top left box, I can list all the commitments/classes for the week. Then per day, I can list the THREE priority things that must be done. And if I need to make notes, I can put that on the right-hand side. 

I read a quote the other night in my Happiness Journal about "tidying up" before you go to bed. And this can be part of that process. Before bed, I can check that the three priority things got done (and yes -- they got done yesterday), and then I can decide, based on the weekly requirements, what the priority is for the next day. I will NOT fill this at the beginning of the week as I may get more done in a day or whatever. 

I think this will work, and if I like the system, I can go back and buy a few more! This was the only orange one, but I can live with another color. I think there are 52 pages in the pad, so it'll work for the year. At the end of the week, I'll rip the page off and start a new one! Let's see how the system works. I like the idea of consciously picking three things that are a priority - rather than thinking they are a priority! 

With the amount of stuff that I have to do, it can be overwhelming to write it all on a list -- I think the three priority things per day will help me, and trust me -- I got way more done than just those priority things, but I need some structure in my day, and I think this little bit will help. Plus, the five minutes of reflection on the week every evening will help to avoid those panic days. At least, I hope so. 

Hey --- I need the serger stuff for Thursday, and I was working on it on Monday, so that's a start! 

Only one of the suitcases got unpacked, but I'll have to focus on the other one today and get it repacked for tomorrow night. I'll be at the Grand Quilt Guild, so you can stop by if you're in the area. They do their meetings hybrid, so you can get the link from them ($10 fee) and watch my scrap quilt lecture!!! 

On that note, I'm out of here! I walked 15.5 KM yesterday and am on track to finish my Virtual Challenge in 14 days! 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!!