Teach the World to Sew Day!!!

Let's hurry up and WAIT!!! It was one of those crazy days with highs and lows. 

The low was that Dad didn't get his surgery, and now there's a possibility they may not operate. What is frustrating is that my brother tried to follow up with the doctor (on a Saturday!), and remember, this hospital is 1.5 hours away, so it's not like he can just walk in and ask. So all done on the phone. They would NOT speak to him—he is the son; they only wanted to talk to the spouse. 

OK -- I totally get that - privacy and all that. But my Mom is useless (sorry to be blunt) about stuff like this. Although we have said her mind is sharp (not so much any longer), she has NEVER made decisions on her own. She has always waited for Stan (my dad) to help her. 

She doesn't know how to ask questions, and if the doctor said, "We are going to do X," she wouldn't question it. Just say OK. My Monday sewing friends have since given me loads of suggestions to get over that situation, so I will pass that information along to my brother. 

So between my brother and Mom, they found out he did not have surgery and may not get surgery. I doubt we'll get a better answer today, since it's Sunday, and we'll likely have to wait until next week. Well, I'm prepared to go, but at this point, there's no point! 

I talked to Mom last night, and she thinks she's fine staying where she is. I could kill her! Let's just wait until Stan gets home. Sigh....................

I really don't want to go out until Dad is closer to home (local hospital), and hopefully by Monday, we'll know more. 

So it's a waiting game! 

First - I want to thank my friend (she knows who she is!) once again for the suggestion to go downtown BEFORE my class and do the class there. What a BRILLIANT idea, and so early (8 AM), I left the house to head downtown. I quickly found a parking space ($10 for the entire day - a great deal) and walked to the Michaels store. 

Michaels on John Street - Toronto

OH MY --- it's hilarious to see a huge Michaels store downtown. But that place was hopping the entire day!! The store is on three levels. If you know downtown Toronto, it's on the corner of Richmond and John Street. I think it used to be a Chapters? 

Inside the Michaels

Multilevel Michaels

I met my contact (Assistant Store Manager), and she whisked me to the classroom, and I quickly got set up and hotspotted to the internet through my phone. I did the scrap session, and it was great!!! Thank you to Michaels for accommodating me!!! I had to laugh because I was sitting in the room and POOF - the lights went out. It was on a timer of about 10 minutes, and because I was sitting, it would go out. I had to fling my left arm out to turn it back on!

I was a little "concerned" about the scrap presentation. My concern was: does the flow work? Am I presenting the material logically? These sessions are NOT just about making scrap quilts. They are about understanding how to deal with scraps, so THEN you can make scrap quilts. I think it went well, and a lot of people were on the call. Everything seems good, and I need to do the follow-up this morning. 

Once that was done, I started to get the room ready for our Teach The World to Sew Day. I had to assemble this giant banner. I love going to these events as most times, you never know what to expect. No instructions, but I'm pretty handy with an Allen key, so I figured it out. 

The Teach the World to Sew Day banner

Then I set up the ten Singer sewing machines, and I was ready!

The sewing machines are set, and we are ready to sew.

We had room for 9 people in each of two sessions. Imagine my surprise when our top North American executive walked into the room! Yikes!!!! Did anyone know she was coming? I certainly did not! I like Maureen, and we get along just fine. 

That reminds me of one of the first times I did a presentation for a Husqvarna Viking dealer. I was out in BC, and a former educator, who is EXTREMELY creative and did loads of amazing stuff in the past, appeared in the audience! OH!!!! But all is good—no need to get flapped because of who they are. Keep doing your job, and all will be fine! However, there was a wee SNAFU, and I'll share in a second. 

We didn't have as many signed up for the second session, but I was talking to M and Yagana two days ago, and they mentioned they would be downtown on Saturday. I said, I'm also downtown at Michaels, and why don't they come and do the class. So they did, along with a third friend. That class ended up FULL, and we had to turn one person away because they came in quite late. We had room for two in the earlier session. That was an excellent turnout!!!!!

Chelsey, M, and Yagana

And here they are with their eyeglass cases!!!! Great job!!!!! 

Yagana, M, Chelsey

As I was working (prepping) on Friday, I was shoving things into my tote bag so I would be ready, and everything was fine. I remembered paper scissors (to open boxes), fabric scissors to cut fabric, snips (I have a huge stack), pins, and so much more. Everything was good, and as the day went on, everything worked out just fine. 

However, when I mentioned I had a small iron with me, Maureen looked at it and said, "Oh - this would have been a great opportunity to showcase the Singer mini-iron!" 

OH MY GOSH -- I completely forgot about the iron. I thought of taking an iron at the last minute (and thank goodness I did - the project was so much better once it was pressed). However, I grabbed the "other" brand that was sitting on my paper piecing table. 

My mini-Singer iron is in the box of tools for my Momento. 

My Singer Mini-iron hides in the box of Singer Momento tools.

When I got home, I dug out the Singer iron, and I will use ONLY that iron going forward!! 

My Singer Mini-Iron!!!

I felt a wee bit bad about that situation, but hey—life happens. I told her I had a family emergency and that cut into my prep time, and I totally forgot about the Singer iron. She was good with that! At least that's what she said. I let my boss know what happened, and then there are no secrets, and life is just fine! 

I try to be as transparent with people as I possibly can, and if they don't like it - well, they can fire me. Which I know they won't do. 

My cousin lives just down the street from the Michaels - I drove past her building, but I was tired and had work to get home to prep for THREE Zoom classes today. Two are done, and the third can go as-is, but I want to swap a couple of pictures. 

The second scrap class is pretty full! I checked the registration two days ago, and two new people signed up since I sent out the welcome emails. So I sent the welcome emails to those two people and thought I was done. Well, I checked this morning, and SEVEN more people signed up, so I had to quickly add them to the main list and then resend what I had sent a couple of days ago. Admin sucks!!!!

But you know what? It's all done! 

Wait -- I forgot to tell you the best part about the day. I had a helper with me for the class, and Camryn was AMAZING. As you can tell from the photo, she is young, and she knows how to sew!!! We had a few broken needles and unthreaded machines, and she was a HUGE help. I'm not sure I could have done it all on my own. I MUST send the store manager a glowing report, because I was super impressed. 

Myself and Camryn

OH GOSH  - you can see the offending iron in this picture!

They have quite the fabric selection at this store - stuff that I haven't seen elsewhere, and apparently there are lots of cosplay people in the area, and where the heck else are you going to find fabric in downtown Toronto? 

Let me tell you that teaching those two classes was an eye-opener, and it also humbled me! And I take my natural ability to sew a straight seam for granted! Some of the people had sewed back in the home ec days, but many had not sewed much. Regulating the speed was an issue, especially through the thick layers of the final seam. So the next time I am trying to teach someone to sew, I must remember that I've been sewing for over 50 years! And it comes naturally to me. 

For others, especially if they are new, it's not so easy! We all managed just fine and had many laughs together. It was a fun day, and Camryn and I got MANY thank-yous from the attendees. I got a message from M, "great teacher," so that makes me proud of her! By the way, the three of them did a pretty good job! 

And yes, Maureen also thanked me, but I will never forget the iron incident. The next time I see her, I will whip that Singer Mini Iron out of my pocket!!! 

Well, on that note, I'm off. I have dogs to walk and a cup of tea to make. I haven't realized how much I enjoy that morning cup of tea, even though it's mostly spent at the computer, but it's just soothing somehow! 

It will be an AMAZING day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

A special wedding gift

I've been keeping a secret for months—OK, two months —and now it's time to share what I did. The only reason I kept it a secret was that I wanted to share all the details at once, and I just didn't have time to make that happen. 

As you know, M and Dillon were married on June 11, and my - how quickly time marches on. It's almost one month since that special day. 

It was about four weeks before the wedding, and I got this ridiculous idea that I could make them a special gift. Let me rephrase that - I wouldn't make the special gift, but I would facilitate it being made. 

Let's just say that I married my love of hobbies with this one. As you know, I have fallen big time into the world of jigsaw puzzles. It used to be a special thing to do at Christmas, but now? It's an everyday occurrence. Well, not quite, but I love doing them. And the more I chat to people, the more I realize that it's a huge deal. Many people do jigsaw puzzles. 

I had tossed this idea around much, much earlier, but just for fun. What if I made a commemorative jigsaw puzzle for the happy couple? Could I pull that off in four weeks? 

I was totally at the mercy of others, but let's see what happens. I sent the initial request to my friend Cynthia Frenette, an artist who lives in Nanoose Bay, BC, on the island, to see if she was up to the challenge. I also had to get in touch with a puzzle-making company before she would start. I contacted TheOccurence, which is located in Merrickville, Ontario, on the same day. 

Prices were agreed upon, and I passed all kinds of information about the couple to Cynthia and let her run loose with it. 

I also told the two contacts that it was my fault for leaving this so late, and if it didn't work out to get the puzzle to BC by the wedding, I was OK with that. Cynthia designs puzzles for other companies (this link only shows a few of her puzzles - she also just won the BC Ferry competition for The Villager puzzle company), so I knew she was up to the task. I got the preliminary sketch about 10 days after I gave her the ideas. She also had access to their IG accounts, and Dillon is constantly posting pictures. I think the picture of Cynthia's puzzle for BC Ferry was only on IG, and I don't have time this morning to find it. I'll let you know when it's available. 

When I saw the sketch, I was thrilled!!!! 

So I gave the go-ahead, and she finished the artwork. In the meantime, I was in touch with Brigitte at TheOccurence, so they could be prepared. Actually, I was late in contacting her, and I apologized and said that if it can't be done, I'm OK with that. I was in the middle of work-related stuff and juggling a lot at the time. 

TheOccurence got the artwork on June 1!!!! OK -- so ten days to make and ship a puzzle. Can it be done? 

YES IT CAN!!!! The folks at TheOccurence were the BEST. They went above and beyond to make this puzzle happen once they got the artwork. 

I'm sure Brigitte was ready to shoot me as I contacted her several times the day that I sent her the file. They didn't open it until late on Tuesday, June 2. That's how they work, and I just had to content myself with the fact that if it didn't work out, that was OK. 

OMG—can you believe they had the puzzle ready to ship on Thursday?! Hurrah for small companies and this one just happens to be Canadian!!! I was thrilled beyond belief. Please, please—you must support TheOccurence—they are a fabulous small business, and I want them to succeed. You can buy puzzles directly from their website or from PuzzlesCanada. OH MY -- I see a bunch of new ones! 

But before that happy event, we needed to figure out how to get it to Tofino on time. It's not like Tofino is in a major center. It's on the far side of Vancouver Island, and it's quite a drive. How much was this shipping going to cost me? Tofino is the red dot on the left. 

Tofino is very remote!

I thought of having it come to us, and we could take it with us on the plane. I had 12 copies made. Just wait—you will see the puzzle in a minute. 

We could have it shipped directly to Tofino, but how much would that cost? 

Then KU said, why not ship it to her sister in Vancouver, and they could take the puzzle over. OK -- that works even better, but we weren't sure when it would arrive, as some of them were coming by car on Tuesday and others by seaplane (limited baggage allowed) on Thursday, the day of the wedding. 

When I heard how much it would be to ship the package OVERNIGHT to BC from Merrickville, I said - let's do it. It was $75 for a relatively large and heavy box! So it arrived in BC on Friday morning, which meant people coming to the wedding by car could bring it. 

All that remained was for them to remember to bring the box, which I'm sure wouldn't be a problem, but it was just one more logistical thing I had to consider. Things happen accidentally, but there were always people coming by plane on Thursday. 

I got the box in my hands on Wednesday evening, and, of course, M spotted me carrying it to my hotel room. That girl just seems to be everywhere she isn't supposed to be. 

They knew nothing about the puzzle, as I wanted it to be a surprise for them. However, I also didn't want to spring it on them at the wedding, so I needed to share it with them at some point. So I asked her if she and Dillon could meet me in the room, as I had something to discuss with them. 

You could see from their faces that they were very apprehensive, as I would be when your mother tells you she did something and isn't sure you'll like it. 

When I showed them the puzzle, they were speechless!!! It was so much fun to see! And they LOVED it!!! It brings tears to my eyes as I recall that moment. So many questions—how did you get all this detail? My necklace is just like the one I wear! It was crazy and so much fun! 

We discussed where the puzzle would be displayed and decided it should be at the after-dinner party. As soon as the picture-taking was done, I scooted to that area and set it up so people could finish the puzzle at the wedding. NO ONE knew about the puzzle except for DH (he paid the bill) and KU and their family, but no one had seen it. 

I had a sign-up sheet so people could request a free copy of the puzzle. I handed out all 12 copies I had with me, and now I need to find the list so I can order more and get them delivered!!!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for—here is the puzzle. The reason it took me so long to share this is that I brought home the puzzle from the wedding, and I needed to make sure it wasn't missing any pieces. 

Our Wedding

The other night, I finally had some free time and got the puzzle together. Cynthia is known for her puzzles being somewhat challenging with all the detail. This one was fairly simple, but it did have some tricky bits. We didn't want to make it too hard because some of the people getting the puzzle are not super puzzlers, and we wanted them to have fun. 

No pieces missing from the wedding puzzle

And yes - Little Bear, who turned ten yesterday, was up front and center in the puzzle. Of course he was!!!

If I weren't in the picture, it wouldn't be complete! 

On our way back from the wedding, we stopped at Cynthia's to have her autograph the box. Thank you so much, Cynthia—you are a brilliant artist, and we love you!!!!! 

The box is autographed now.

Here's a picture of M and Dillon the night I showed them the puzzle. It was so much fun to share that with them and how it came about, although they were probably not in any shape to remember what I said with so many other things to think about, so it's all documented here now. 

The happy couple with their custom puzzle

I had a sign at the puzzle with a sign-up sheet at the after-dinner party. 

The sign at the wedding

The puzzle on display

The ideal plan would have been for us to have copies of the puzzle with us when we stopped to meet Cynthia in person. Although I have been friends with Cynthia for many years and she has done artwork for us before, this was the first time I got to meet her in person. On the way up, we stopped, and I got her to sign one of her other puzzles. Yep -- I carried that one all the way with me in my suitcase. Then we stopped on the way back and got her to autograph the wedding puzzle. And yes -- she is tall. We took the picture in her art studio. 

Cynthia and myself 

All I can say is we need to support our artists. This is how they earn a living, and I have another story to tell you about that, but it will have to wait. 

I was able to get |M's copy of the puzzle in the mail yesterday, and so they will finally be able to make their puzzle. She wanted one in the wrapper, and one they could assemble. So now they will be able to assemble theirs when it arrives next week. I'll crack it open every anniversary and put it together for them.

A massive shoutout to Cynthia Frenette and TheOccurence for making this happen in a very short time frame. I truly appreciate your artistry and skill. The gift was worth every penny!!!

Wow—on that happy note, I'm out of here! 

There is a virtual retreat this afternoon. It starts at 3 PM. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84936943764?pwd=F4GB0CFWZUDAukXjGmbNLR1GS6CreN.1

Meeting ID: 849 3694 3764
Passcode: 777609

Ciao!!!!!!

Doing what you think you don't like

OH MY --- someone mentioned in the comments about Mary Ellen's book -- "It's OK if you sit on my quilt." Indeed, there were NO quilt police for her! Mary Ellen was quite the spitfire - I heard that from the shop owner where I used to hang out. And definitely, there were no quilt police in Mary Ellen's life. It's a great book. All three of her books that I have (well, technically, now two) are amazing. The amount of detail, flexibility, and freedom she gives is refreshing. 

We need NEW books like that. Books that give you permission to play, meat to sink your teeth into, and not another book filled with patterns. The good stuff came in the old books! Which is why a lot of my books are the old stuff! 

I'm working on the items from the handwritten to-do list. I just can't work with the list on the computer. I have no idea why -- it's just not in my blood, but I'll keep trying. I'm great with audiobooks and ebooks, but not my lists! 

This weekend is the Color My World class, and I still have some appliqué to do on the house blocks I made earlier. I seem to have a mental block about appliqué. I have no idea why. I have a good machine that does great appliqué. I have lots of stitches that work amazingly well for appliqué. The machine has zero issues and is easy to switch between piecing and appliqué, and I have all the proper tools and plenty of thread. But the thought of stitching out appliqué just doesn't sound appealing to me. Why is that? 

Well, I need to get my butt in gear and make this happen, so this morning, when I woke up and lay in bed contemplating what I would do today, that appliqué popped into my head. It's Tuesday, and I need this done by Saturday. 

So I got everything prepped, which took about 1 minute, and then I started. I also connected my audiobook. And before an hour had passed, I had completed all of the fiddly bits and only had seven pieces left to stitch down later this morning. 

Four house blocks that need appliqué stitching

So, can you tell me why it's not my favorite thing to do? All that remains is to stitch the two pieces of tree down (one tree is already stitched in place, which is why there are seven left) on four blocks. Then I'm done and only have this month's homework left to finish. Finish? Who am I kidding - I haven't even started it!

I have other appliqué to do as well, and I really should just leave the machine set up and continue. It's not hard, and I'm good at it! Mindset change!!!!

Yesterday was Monday sewing, and we had a great time. There is a lot to be said for being close to an amazing and extremely supportive group of women. What I love about Zoom calls that you will not get in an in-person group is that if you are seeking information (that's me every week), EVERYONE usually has something to offer. While they are listening, they can continue working. This DOES NOT happen in an in-person sewing session. 

While people like to get together in person, and I agree that I like that as well, I will NEVER give up my Zoom calls. Learning to take turns talking, actively listening, and participating is something you will NEVER get in an in-person group. OK—depends on the size of the group. But Zoom? Something very good came from the pandemic. 

A HUGE thank you to the ladies who answered my many questions yesterday; I feel much better about a lot of things. And you know what? People like to share information, and they typically have a ton to share. Some people need a bit more encouragement than others, and I find that the ones who usually talk are happy to talk over the quiet ones. WAIT!!! Let person X respond, since I asked THEIR opinion, not yours! I find I have to do that frequently in the Zoom calls. But it's a "trick" to engage everyone - ask questions. It's not just about YOU! It's about everyone! I don't always do a good job, but I try. I think that's why every casual Zoom call requires a moderator to keep the conversation going and to encourage everyone to participate. 

While they were chatting and answering questions, I had something important to work on. 

M is getting married in just over three weeks! Oh my --- how did that date come up so quickly? And she is following the tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. We also added the phrase about the penny for the shoe. And thanks to Jane, who found a penny for the year she was born. 

She had taken care of everything, but needed something old. I couldn't think of anything, but she remembered this little pinafore that I made for her when she was tiny! We have a family photo of her in the dress. She drooled on the embroidery in the yoke, and I don't think she ever wore it again. It's been hanging in the closet for 30 years. I'll take a picture of the dress, which doesn't have quite so much work on it. 

Pinafore for the dress

The dress and pinafore went out to BC with a friend of hers and then came back. She asked if she could use the lace along the bottom to wrap her bouquet in. At first, I was resistant, and then seriously! I gave my head a shake. If she remembers this dress from when she was a babe, the least I can do is let her use the lace. I must remember to learn from my mom what not to do! 

As we chatted yesterday, I attacked the bottom of the ruffle using the seam ripper. 

Time for some ripping

Not wanting that lace to ever come off, there were two rows of stitches - of course, there were, and because of the ruffle, there was almost 4 meters of lace. OK -- it's technically eyelet trim, not lace. I had staystitched the bottom of the ruffle, then stitched the trim onto the bottom of the ruffle, and then topstitched it in place. 

That's a lot of stitching.

It took FOUR hours to carefully remove the trim, but it's off! I just have to remove all the threads from the trim and give it a good press. Amazing how much it has yellowed in thirty years in a dark closet. I'm not washing it -- that's the concept of OLD! I must try to find a new picture of her in the dress - the one that's been sitting in the living room for 30 years is quite faded. 

The trim is off the pinafore.

If the trim comes back in good condition, I can restitch it to the ruffle. Why? I don't know because who the heck would ever dress their kid in a dress like that? Unless it's for a photo! Perhaps if she has a girl someday........ But mission accomplished. Now I have to resize a bowtie for Bear, and I'm waiting for scraps of wedding-dress fabric to arrive so I can make a ring-bearer pillow. 

I'm waiting for my outfit to arrive, as I broke down and just ordered one online. I have to rent a car, check the Hullo ferry schedule, and then I'm done with my wedding plans! 

I also completed another community project quilt! 

Community project quilt - number 5 of 11 - done!

I'll be very happy to get these done, but I also have another grouping of ten of my quilts slated for community projects, and I need to dive into those. I must make some kind of dent in the pile this year, or I'll never get them finished. 

It's definitely a treat to work on something where the backing has already been prepared. But I'd better learn to "like" that task, because there are about 250 community project quilts with ZERO backing or binding. Yippee!!!!

Here was the quote in my tea the other day. OH!!!!

A great quote to live by

I cannot express this fact often enough, and we need to encourage people (quilters) or any other person to embrace this philosophy. We NEED to make mistakes, we need to fail, we need to embrace all those so-perceived negative things. Because if we become used to the negative things, we don't feel bad when something really bad happens. We will have developed coping mechanisms to get over it. Today, the youth do not have those abilities (not all), and it's hard for them when something goes wrong, and they develop anxiety! 

Can you imagine being shielded from failure all your life, and then going out into the world and facing failure for the first time as an adult? You'll have a meltdown! 

The section in The Celestine Prophecy I am currently reading is about children, encouraging them to grow, and giving them your full attention. OH boy -- if the author could see the world today, where parents are walking their children to school, and the parent is on the phone. Why are other people on the phone more important than the little one in front of you? 

I really think this book could be rewritten as a "self-help" type book. Outline the nine principles and forget the story. Although the story helps illustrate each of the nine principles. Actually, when you look at it from that perspective, the storyline is pretty clever. While the storyline is so contrived, I'm enjoying the book and really, really believe in these nine principles. It's about self-awareness, energy, and how to get it, and living in harmony with each other and the planet. But I'm curious why the author feels it necessary to give each character the main character meets an age?  

Perhaps I'd better take the lesson from the dealing with children section and apply it to Murphy. I was on the phone for quite a bit yesterday and sat in the gazebo to make the calls. 

Of course, she wanted it to be all about her! And this was her adoring face, only because I took her ball away from her! 

Mom - give me the ball, I'll be good! I'm a good girl!

It's almost like the instant I sat down, she grabbed a ball and threw it into the pond. Her acts are so intentional that you can't help but smile. But then, when I don't pay attention to her, she barks! And she doesn't like to be disciplined, won't be quiet, and you can't catch her. Indeed, one very naughty girl! 

MOM - the pond is a magnet for the ball!

At one point, she finally got the message that we were not playing ball, and she lay like this - staring at the ball. 

MOM - My ball is beautiful!

If the ball comes close enough to the edge, she can pick it out. But it's more fun to have someone throw the ball! 

The rabbits in our neighborhood are pretty bold. They hang out along the walk, and for the most part, Murphy can contain herself, but she can get hysterical. Lexi just wants to play with them. 

The rabbits are bold in our neighborhood.

After dinner, I attempted to work on the jigsaw puzzle. While my butterflies and birds are more together, I'm still a long way from being finished. I need to start moving those pieces into the proper position in the puzzle. I love having the puzzle on the end of the table like this because I can swing my chair around and work from THREE sides! All the pieces are on those boards, which are out of the way. But notice how many pieces I have lying in the puzzle. And I can't find homes for them. Yet............

Progress on the puzzle

This morning, as I walked by (the puzzle is too big to be completely covered by the boards), I noticed that I'm getting a lot of work done in the bottom-left corner. Notice how the corner is floating; it's not connected to the left or bottom border! 

A floating corner!

The cleaning ladies are coming today, so there are a few things I haven't finished (sorting books I don't want), and I must take care of them this morning. It's a good thing to have a cleaning service because it forces you to deal with the "junk" that has accumulated since they last came by! 

I'll have to tell you the story of the cleaning lady another day! I have a few things to put in the garage so they can be packed in the car for the upcoming quilt retreat, and I have things in the kitchen which will get plunked into the office, which is why the office is never clean and tidy! One day!!!!

There is a virtual retreat this weekend. Saturday evening, starting at 6 PM, and Sunday, starting at 3 PM. I'll post the links later this week, but in the meantime, you can add that to your calendar if you want to attend. It throws the Zoom security computer into a tizzy if I post the links on a public blog! Remember what I said about our Monday Zoom -- the information sharing and the way it makes you realize you are not alone in any aspect of your life are priceless. 

And on that happy note, I'm off to tidy up a bit and get a LOT of items checked off the to-do list. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

It's a beautiful day!

Yesterday was a glorious day here. The temperature was pretty decent, and the sky was blue. I started the day off by taking a walk along the waterfront, which is just a few short blocks from here.

The seaplanes had no issues with fog and were frequently buzzing across Stanley Park. Oh well - I'll just have to come back to do that trip. I've flown over Vancouver Harbour once, and the view is spectacular. 

The seaplane and clear blue sky

It was earlyish in the morning when I went out. I think the temperature was 4 degrees Celsius at the time, but that didn't stop Vancouverites from walking/running in shorts. And people were playing tennis!!! They are certainly not afraid of the temperatures or the rain. Yet, others were bundled up in their long puffer coats. 

I started out with my orange jacket, which is on its last legs. The water repellent is gone, and the down has become so thin. But it still works. I had thin gloves and my scarf on, but by the time I got back from my walk, I was sweating buckets. Did I mention that there are hills in this area? It's fine going down, but coming back up? 

Anyway, I spotted the sun rising by the Lion's Gate Bridge, which was beautiful to watch. 

Sunrise and the Lion's Gate Bridge

It is pretty amazing when you think I take all my pictures with my phone. The features on it are much better than those on my DSLR camera. And that is why cell phones are so expensive. The phone? It probably costs a couple of dollars, but the phone's camera, with all its features, is what costs so much. So if you are NOT taking advantage of the camera, then you probably don't need a new phone. 

The walk along the water's edge is stunning. If I lived here, I would be walking there every day. And the best news? It's a DOG PARK!!!!! My girls would be in their glory. However, I'm not sure how they would behave, as most dogs just ambled along with their owners, while my girls would be buzzing around like mad. Of course, there are no squirrels or rabbits to distract them, so it might work. 

The dog park!!!

I was on the hunt for an Adventure Lab (part of Geocaching), and I managed to get most of it, but M and I finished it off later in the day. There are benches along the way with plaques. This would be a cool spot to put a memorial bench. I may not have lived here, but the view is spectacular. 

Benches along the path

And there is one section near the bridge where you walk through the forest, which is very different from my forest back home. 

Forest bathing - BC style

You know you are playing EXIT Games too much when you start to spot numbers everywhere. 

There's a FIVE!!!!

I think that was an earthworm who had seen better days! But seriously --- you can't miss that number!!! The walk was excellent, and I made up for the lack of steps the previous day when it was raining. 

I stopped at a cafe for a hot chocolate. And I got this cute motif on the top. My body (and wallet) are going to go into withdrawal when I get home. Not many Tim's here, and the cafes aren't cheap!!!

The motif in my hot chocolate

Interesting that when I got to the bottom, the motif was still there. Hmmm --- what is it made of? 

The motif lasted until the bottom of the cup

After lunch, M and I went out, and we walked along the waterfront to finish the Adventure Lab. And of course, Bear had to come with us. It wasn't in the plan that he was coming, but he was pretty insistent when we were getting ready to leave! He has such an attitude for a little guy. 

As we were down on the pier, we spotted this giant ship coming out of the harbour. Hmm --- what is that? It was GIANT and not like anything I'd seen before. I guessed that it was a car carrier, and when we did a Google image search, that's what it was!!!! Here's a video if you want to know all about Ro-ro carriers. Ro-ro stands for roll-on/roll-off, so they are designed for anything that can be loaded via its own wheels, eliminating the need for a crane. Who knew???

The Ro Ro carrier

WOW -- it's like a parking garage that floats!!! Pretty impressive. I imagine that this ship just unloaded a load of cars, but I wonder what it takes back? Does it sail empty? I don't think so because some of them can carry cargo, but it would be limited since they don't have an external loading system. 

We also watched people crabbing off the pier. They load something to entice the crabs into an open net, then wing it into the water. I'm not sure how the net closes, but then they can reel the net in. This person was measuring, so I guess there are regulations as to what size you can keep. 

Measuring the crab

Then we stopped at another cafe in the afternoon. And it was glorious. We sat there in our shirt sleeves. OK - so there was a heater on the patio, but it was a beautiful day. And this is what they had inside. 

Macarons

Among many other goodies, but we only had a few macarons. And of course, Bear was the center of attention. He just gets people going, and he knows it!!!

Here's a group shot of us at one point. I think we were on the pier at this point. No background to see, but we were on the ocean! Or harbour or whatever you want to call it. I guess it's between Burrard Inlet and the Vancouver Harbour. 

Group shot

I had some computer work to do in the afternoon. Working on a big project, which I hope to share with you all in a couple of weeks. I have a lot of work to do before I can show you. Bear was bored by it all since it didn't directly involve him, but he got lots of love. 

Grandma - computer work is boring!!!!

We had to pop out to Michael's again, and M spotted this. OK -- water bottles are a big deal, but look how tiny this cup is. Useful? Novelty? I don't know, and it had a metal straw in it. 

A tiny water container

And then I got a lesson in reusable cups. You can buy accessories for them, including snack trays. Oh boy -- I'm out of the loop. I just want something that I can put my water in. 

Snack trays for water bottles

While on Salt Spring Island, I spotted some diamond painting kits, so I bought one for M, since I knew she liked rhinestones. Well, she finished it last night and was wondering how to frame it. 

Finishing the diamond painting picture

We went to Michael's to get a mat cut for an inexpensive frame. We asked for 6 1/4" by 6 3/8" as that was the size of the colored part. We were all excited, but when we got home, it wasn't the correct size. Despite confirming several times with the clerk, she wrote down 6" by 6 1/8". So she missed 1/4" on both sides. Hmmmmm -- that's insane, so we have to go back today. Well, M will have to go back because I have a plane to catch. 

My plane leaves at noon, so I have to get everything packed, and then we'll head to the airport, as I have two suitcases to check. 

While it's been a great time away, it's definitely time to go home. I have so much to do, and so much I want to do, and I'm only home for a day before I leave again. Who did the planning on that? OK -- so it was me, but it was also just how the timing for things worked out. That will be the LAST trip of the year! 

I'm sure the girls will be excited to see me, but they have been walking while I was away, and I have my SIL to thank for that! She's also been working on her quilt in Studio B, so she's keeping Murphy company or vice versa. I've been sending advice when she needed it via text!!!! She knows how to sew, so it really isn't a big deal. But I remember the first time I made a quilt with HSTs --- I didn't know how to trim, and there wasn't a single one done properly on that quilt!

We watched the next episode of Project Runway Canada, but there was only one more to watch. The episodes are being released weekly, so the next one doesn't come out until Friday. Will I watch it on my own? I'm not sure. So then we moved to the current season of Project Runway. Oh boy -- how much of the attitude is scripted or hyped up? Some of the cast are pretty flamboyant!!!!! And the drama? Wow!!!!

Well, I'd better get myself organized so I can finish packing up my stuff, which kind of got spread all over, and that's OK. 

Before I go, here's the next post on QUILTsocial. Today, it's all about textured machine embroidery (yarn couching). This is appropriate for anyone with an embroidery machine, so be sure to check it out. 

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Ciao!!!!


























 

Through the ages........

OOOPS --- yes -- I knew I misspelled WAZE and didn't have time to go back and check it. It is WAZE!!!! 

But here's the thing --- I used Google Maps yesterday to get to my meeting even though I knew where it was, but I like using it to give me the ETA (estimated time of arrival). I used it there and back home. When I left the house, it estimated I would arrive at 8:11, and I arrived exactly when it said I would, even though there was traffic. It had precalculated the time I would arrive BASED on the traffic. And if there was a sudden change, as on the way home, it adjusted the time. I get notifications of construction, objects on the road, etc. 

As I say to DH all the time, if it works for me, why should I change? It's never gotten me lost, it's never messed up my plans. It's easy to check on my computer before leaving, and I use Google Maps all the time for other applications, not just driving. So I'm not knocking it before I try it", I just don't see a reason to switch. But thanks for the information! When I hop in the car, it already knows where I'm going if I checked my destination online before leaving the house. And sometimes, it already brings up the destination based on my Google Calendar. I don't even have to search - it already knows where I'm going. And it's easy enough to give Google verbal commands to go anywhere. 

In fact, Google Maps has corrected me on occasion. If I only give it a partial address, it knows where I'm going. And once I gave directions to a place that had a different name. It corrected me and told me the CORRECT name of the place. How cool is that? So when something is working, don't rock the boat! 

You know me and technology - if something works --- don't touch it! I equate this to whether I want Apple or Android for a phone. Hands down - I'll take Android any day. I have my reasons, and see no reason to switch to Apple. I won't go into detail, but I'm very brand loyal. VERY brand loyal! 

And you have to love the voice commands with the CarPlay products. I needed to send DH a text when I was on the road. Of course, I'm not in Africa, so I'm not touching my phone. Trust me, they text and drive all the time! So I decided to try the voice commands. I asked Google to send a text message to him. But WAIT ---we don't really text, we do WhatsApp. Will that work? So I asked Google to send a WhatsApp message to him, and it did. It sent both. WOW  --- OK -- I'm not a total idiot, I know how to respond to a message that comes in, but I hadn't initiated sending a message before. I'm not a big messenger person. I rarely get any messages in a day, so it's not a big deal! I have a tiny circle of people I'm in regular touch with, and I like it that way! 

It was a great meeting and I always learn something at the meetings. There are some excellent new products on the way. Of course, I already knew about them, but it's good to get the official word that is communicated to the stores. Plus, just chatting with the other team members brings you up to speed on many things. I just say after what seems like a very long break, I feel a bit out of the loop! It's time to get back in action! 

I'll be hosting a 'What's New' event for PFAFF and Husqvarna Viking on September 23 at Stitch by Stitch in Kingston. If you're a mid machine user, you might want to come and see what's coming. It's pretty exciting!!! This is an in-person event. Even if you are not in the market for a new machine, come check it out. It's a great way to stay informed about the technology, so when you decide you want a new machine, you have some idea of what to expect. These are not your grandmother's sewing machines! 

While some of the business matters were being discussed, I sat with my laptop and designed projects for my upcoming Facebook Live this week. I'll be using the PFAFF machines for that event, but the inspiration can be translated to your machine of choice. Oh yes --- of course, I want to make some new samples. So I have a bunch of stuff designed, and I've pulled fabric or ready-made items, and I'm ready to stitch. 

First, I needed to clean that machine, as it's been a while. 

It's cleaning time

Oh -- there was a little bit of lint in it, but it's all clean and shiny now. 

A "wee" bit of lint was removed

I dug into one of my bins of fabric to find things that are fall-inspired, and I found this. I wirelessly sent the design to the PFAFF creative icon 2 and pressed START, and it's stitching out. As a matter of fact, while I'm writing, I can monitor the progress of the design on the Creativate app on my phone. You have to LOVE Wi-Fi-enabled embroidery machines. And having said that, if you don't have one and the top of the line is out of your budget, you may want to come to the What's New next week at Stitch by Stitch! 

Let the embroidery begin

Oh -- as a matter of fact, while I was sitting at the computer during the meeting, and loading some designs, I had the choice to send the design to my laptop or my computer. I accidentally sent them to my computer twice, and when I got home, the designs were sitting there waiting to be used! Yep --- this Creativate network is the best!!! 

Now, if I had smart dogs, and I had left the embroidery machines on, I could have sent the designs to the embroidery machines. The girls could have pressed Start, and it would have been stitched by the time I got home. How wonderful that would be!!!

I found this photo transfer in the basket of dog fabric! Oh my goodness, this was taken many years ago. Of course, that is M, who hasn't lived here in over 10 years, and Sparky, and of course, our little Sammy. OK -- I don't have a favorite dog! OK --- it's hard to forget Little Sammy! She was a rescue and had many issues, but we worked them out. But how can I ever forget her - she bit me once (my fault for surprising her) and I have a split thumbnail and will for the rest of my life! 

My girls!!!!

I'm not sure I should show you the following pictures, but OH MY GOD -- how we change. 

I was looking through the filing cabinet the other day and found these. I'll just give you the dates they were taken. I won't mention where the pictures came from - I think you can figure it out. 

OH -- I look like I have a bird's nest on my head! And I really look like my Mom in that photo  - at least when she was younger. 

1987

This was obviously my punk rock era! And am I on drugs or what? 

1993

This is my softer, Suzie Homemaker phase. I even curled my hair, but I bet it didn't stay like that for long! 

1998

Obviously, a very bad hair day. This looks like a mug shot! 

2004

Seriously? I'm not photogenic at all, unless I smile, and that at least gives me somewhat of a good image! Not so with these ones! 

2009

A little washed out in this one and zero smile! You probably won't notice, but I wore the same shirt in the 2009 and 2014 photos. I still have that shirt, and it looks as good as it did the day I bought it. Actually, I don't think I bought it - I think I got it as swag at a fundraiser. Or more likely, DH bought it at a golf tournament! 

2014 

At least I look somewhat distinguished in this photo, with that slightly raised chin! The hair is definitely better, but where's that smile? Where's that twinkle in the eye? Nope -- just a dead stare! But that's what they want, so that's what I give them! 

2024

It would be fun to set that up into a morphing video. I'm sure AI would do that for me, but I just don't have time to mess with that. And no one needs to do that. 

I managed to get one embroidery machine up and running today, and my goal is to get the other one up as well. I would love to get five new samples done today and five more tomorrow. I also have to set up the space with all the cameras, but that shouldn't take too long. 

There's so much paper crap surrounding my desk, but I won't be able to touch that until after September 27. I know that many people have been signing up (by paying) for the Colour My World class. I will acknowledge those hopefully this weekend. It's a time challenge to send out individual emails, so I'll think of a way to make that happen. 

I see a dumpster in the driveway of the empty house two doors from us. That house has been empty for two years. It had been rented out to a very large family or a very busy family for several years, and they trashed the interior. I've no idea how badly it was damaged, but the homeowners were heartbroken. And it sat for two years because they didn't know what to do with it. I'm guessing now that there is a dumpster, that they are going to renovate and sell? I'm not sure what their plans are, but it would be nice if someone could make use of the house rather than it sitting empty. 

Well, on that note, I'm out of here! It's going to be a busy day, and I'll be focused on organizing the space while the embroidery machines work away, and then I have to collect stuff for the machine embroidery workshop this weekend. If you are in the Windsor area and want to know all about machine embroidery, that is the place to be. You can contact Heather at Thimble Quilts and Sewing. Check it out! 

I need to change the thread before walking the girls. I can't afford downtime today!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!