The washroom can be a great source of inspiration

I think I'm going to have to give up my day job and look into working for a packing company! Yes, I unpacked 13 embroidery units for the NEW PFAFF creative icon 3 in 30 minutes! Once you get the hang of how it's packaged and what you want from the box, it's super easy. And it helps to be agile when maneuvering the case the embroidery unit is packed in. It's still a large box, but it's an engineering feat! I can't say enough about the box for the embroidery unit. It's the same one as the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 3. I would upgrade simply because of that new embroidery unit. It's the best, and so is the storage. 

For those with the old-style embroidery unit, this one is amazing. I can't say enough about it. And when we had finished the event, I had to pack those units back up. I did get some help, but it took longer than getting them out, but not by much. Again - the packaging is so well thought out, and everything has a home! 

And then we had to pack up 14 PFAFF creative icon 3s into their shipping boxes. We worked like a production line, and others put all the bits in the top section of the box, so all I had to do (again with one other person helping) was to put the machines into their respective boxes. If you keep the box, it is great for carrying your machine around, except that it is huge! But for us, who must keep the original box, it is beautifully designed and makes it super easy to pack a machine, which is very important if you have a large quantity to pack. 

With all the packing from last week and this week, I'm pretty good and very efficient at packing. 

Those machines and EUs are heavy! But I'm still able to do that kind of task, and well, I'm happy to help out. I will say that packing puzzles was a much easier job. The boxes were much lighter and smaller! I didn't need to go to the gym! 

The day went very well, and the dealers in the room were very excited about the new features on the creative icon 3. I'm pretty excited about it, and should you want one, you can check with your local PFAFF dealer, as they now have the proper training and information and can sell you one. There is a presale deal going on right now. By the end of next week, all the PFAFF dealers across Canada will be certified to sell that machine. Check out this link to learn more. 

The hotel that we typically have these events at has undergone a makeover since I was there last. Brand new carpet and paint in the meeting rooms. And new wallpaper in the bathrooms. Although I think that wallpaper was there the last time I was there, but I didn't really take note of it. 

The wallpaper in the bathroom

Yes—you can get so much inspiration from public washroom wall coverings. 

But what is funny is that this reminds me of the signature artwork in the PFAFF creative icon 3. I don't have a picture, nor do I have the machine, but some of those designs are funky curves like this. If you check out this link, you can see some of it in the fabric that is being embroidered in the video. If memory serves, there is one very similar design, and as soon as I can get a picture, I'll share it with you. 

I also accomplished more weeding the day before, so while there is still one patch I didn't get to, it doesn't look half bad. After the gardener comes this morning, it will look spic and span. 

I'm currently reading a book about a guy who calls himself a hermit. The Scotsman did lots of backpacking through northern Canada and Alaska and finally settled in a northern area of Scotland. It's not that he didn't want to be with people, but his calling was to live off-grid in the wild. He kept a diary, and he wrote down his travels. This book, called The Way of the Hermit by Ken Smith, is really quite an interesting read. The BBC made a documentary about him. 

There are lots of trials and tribulations as he learns to live in the wild and gets a job that allows him to do so and build a cabin, etc. 

But what I found really fascinating was his life as a storyteller. Here's a quote from his book: "When you keep a diary, you find yourself actively looking for a story to tell, and soon enough, your life will fill with far more vibrant scenes than it would if you were just sitting in your chair, passively letting the world slip by before you. You want to impress your reader, and if that reader is only ever going to be you, what could be more important than creating a life story that is full of color and resonance?"

OH MY GOSH --- I had never thought about my writing the blog in that way. But he is absolutely right about that. 

Wherever I go and whatever I do, the stories for the blog are constantly in my subconscious. I must take a picture of that, or remember the details of something else. Some of these stories get tucked away for a bit, and others I have to tell the very next day. And what I find hilarious is that things tend to group themselves in things you touch or see in your daily life. 

In The Way of the Hermit, Ken frequently refers to the larch, a common tree in the northern parts of the world, including Scotland, which he uses for firewood; I think he used larch when he built (and rebuilt) his cabin. He is very conscientious about reforesting the areas he harvests for firewood, and he is using fallen trees to help keep the forest floor clear. 

Just a few minutes ago, I read a short article in an OLDER quilt magazine (2014) about a Scottish quilter who rejuvenated a type of boat made from larch! I haven't finished the article yet, but it always amazes me how, when a new word or phrase comes up, you frequently find it popping up elsewhere. I am not familiar with larch trees, so to have it come up in two completely separate contexts within three days of each other? That's crazy!

And that had nothing to do with AI or anyone else listening to it - both sources came from print material, although one of them was from an e-book.  

Oh my gosh -- can you believe how quickly this month has gone! Soon it will be August and then summer will be over! 

Unless something else comes up, and it could, I am home for the remainder of the summer! Yeah me!!! I hope to get outside and enjoy the gazebo and the rushing water in the pond. I hope to read and do some puzzles, and I also hope to get down to Studio B, because I have a few things I want to get done! 

I didn't get a chance to work on the pattern testing because I got home quite late. But that will be on the agenda today. I hope to complete one more block and get the next one or two cut out. 

It really is an adorable quilt, and even though I am using the same colors (not fabric) as Lorna, our quilts have a different flavor. I'll do a side-by-side comparison when we are both finished. 

I have one appointment first thing this morning, and then the rest of the day is mine! Yeah!!!

On that note, I'm out of here. And the next time you are in a public washroom, check out the wall coverings!! You never know if you'll find an inspiration there! It might be a design, but it might just be the color! You never know. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

PS -- sorry --- I wrote the blog, then forgot to post it. A little bit of an emotional (in a good way) morning. I have a doozey of a story for tomorrow. Get your Kleenex ready. 

Much ado about sleep!

If this post doesn't make sense this morning - it's not my fault!!! As I sit here writing, I'm sandwiched between a Husky and a Retriever who are NOT very happy! They are literally glued to my legs. I'll tell you why in a second. 

I didn't make it outside for a walk before heading down to Quilty Pleasures, which was just a few blocks from the hotel. All was good. The people who attended the events went home with their brains overloaded, but they had the opportunity to ask tons of questions, and we had a great time with lots of laughs. 

And you have to love it when all the technology goes as planned, like the computer connecting directly to the TV for the presentation. The Singer Momento connected to the computer without issue, and it cut like a hot knife through butter! That's how everything is supposed to work, but you know me and technology - there are some days when technology doesn't work as it's supposed to. It was a great day! 

I had a look around the store between presentations and a few things found their way home with me --- YES -- including some fabric which I typically do not purchase. I haven't unpacked yet, so I'll share later. 

I met up with a friend for dinner - a simple affair at Tim's and we had a grand chat, and I decided to hit the road about 7 PM. It was a five-hour drive, which should get me home around midnight. 

The GPS took me on a bit of a tour through the countryside. I was listening intently to my audiobook and didn't pay attention to the road signs, and, well, I got myself back onto the 401, but not nearly as soon as I had planned. The GPS must have been looking for the shortest distance. I will say that when I went there, I had about 15 km left showing on the gas tank. this time? I had over 100 Km. Now, why is that? Oh --- speed plays a big factor! It wasn't a big deal, and despite driving some of the country roads, the time to get home was the same. 

You drive faster but cover more KMs, or drive slower and go as the crow flies! It was the same thing. All I can say is that at that time of night, there wasn't much traffic. I saw several signs indicating that ALL LANES were closed as I neared Toronto, so I took matters into my own hands and took the toll road to bypass the closures. I didn't want to get stuck in traffic. There was NO traffic on the toll highway. It was very weird. 

The trip home was pretty uneventful, except when I was on the phone chatting with M. I wasn't driving super fast, and I spotted a deer on the side of the road. YIKES!!! It wasn't going anywhere, but it scared me -- you hear so many stories of deer running out into the road. This one was smart! 

I stopped once and had a nap. Could I have made it home without? Maybe, but I wanted a washroom break anyway, and since I fell asleep right away until my 30-minute alarm woke me up, I think the nap was warranted. I had no need to get home by a certain time. 

I got home and unpacked the car, and all was good. As I neared my neighborhood, the book took an unexpected turn. So when I was thinking I could easily fall asleep when I get home, maybe that's not going to happen. I sat in the driveway and listened to the end of that chapter and decided I could finish the book this morning. 

I did read one chapter in my ebook before falling asleep. It was 1:30 PM. 

I had not looked at the weather, but woke up to find Murphy standing by the bed, and the lightning and thunder were wild. It was crazy, and it was raining like mad. She tried tucking her head between the bed and the nightstand. I don't know why she doesn't stay in the stairs room since it's probably the darkest place in the house. 

She doesn't like cuddling, and she no longer jumps on the bed. She just needed to be close. 

 The lightning lasted about 30 minutes. I heard Murphy go downstairs, then went back to sleep. That was about 3 AM. Phew!

I had barely fallen asleep when I heard her at the back door barking her head off! I came downstairs, but couldn't see a thing. I got her calmed down, showed her there was nothing outside, and went back to bed. That was about 3:30 AM. 

My alarm went off at 4:30 AM. I shut it off and went back to sleep. 

The second alarm went off at 5:00 AM. I shut it off and went back to sleep. 

At 6:00 AM, I heard Murphy back in the room, and the lightning and thunder were incredible. The entire sky was lit up from end to end, and the thunder was booming. At one point, you could feel the thunder. I know that sounds weird, but you could feel it. And it sounded like a torrential downpour. I finally got up at 6:30 so I could write the blog. 

In case you don't believe me about feeling the thunder, here's what AI has to say about that. 

And I'm going to go back to bed the second I publish this blog. Of course, that won't happen because the girls will want their walk, and then I'll go back to bed.

I spent the first part of the evening trying NOT to fall asleep and the second part trying to fall asleep, which wasn't a problem, but I couldn't stay asleep!

I have a lot of work to get done this week before we leave, and OH MY -- we leave on SUNDAY, not Monday, so I'm going to lose a day here! How the heck could I make that mistake when it's very clearly marked in my calendar! 

So we'll have a Virtual Retreat on Saturday night, and I'll be around for part of Sunday. I'll post the links later this week. I may just have the virtual retreat on Saturday night since I won't be around. Good grief—well, since I'm now losing a day, I'd better get myself organized, but not before I get more sleep! 

It's always interesting to walk around stores, and I didn't think I had ever been to Quilty Pleasures, but after being there, I have a distinct memory of my bicycle parked in front of the store. Hmmm --- I need to go back and find that. 

OMG --- as quick as that, I found it. August 13, 2014.   Amazing what information you can find on the blog. This was the second time I did a cross-Canada trip on my bicycle, except it wasn't really cross-Canada. I joined the tour in Tottenham, north of Toronto. 

I rode my bike to Quilty Pleasures in 2014

Shoot --- I should have checked the blog BEFORE I went to that store. I would have taken a picture of my car parked in the space to the left of the bike. That would have been hilarious!!!! 

OH -- it gets even better. I was at Quilty Pleasures on August 23, 2015. This time I had the car and the bike! It looks like I was riding the Waterfront Trail, but I'd have to figure out why I had the bike and the car. I think this year was the year of the Row by Row. I must find the license plate. 

I'm back at Quilty Pleasures.

Well, duh—I'm an idiot for not taking a picture of my car at the store yesterday, and who knew when I was there in 2014/15 that I'd be back 10+ years later for an SVP event!! I think that's hilarious! And I was going to take my row-by-row quilt with me. CRAP!!!!

I knew the store looked familiar when I arrived. 

I did find a pattern that might be interesting to teach in the fall. I need to put them all in one spot and start making some evaluations. 

As for the Christmas cactus? It was given to me with a bloom on it, and well, I'm not the best with plants. And the fact that I'm going away for two weeks - I don't give the plants much hope. Hey - it's already been sitting in the fridge, wrapped in soaking-wet paper towels for a week. Let's see -- it might be a Christmas miracle!!!

On that note, I'm a bit more awake, and I'll take the girls out for a walk since it's stopped raining, and then I can go back to bed. I need to get to work so I can put my headphones on and finish that book (1 hour 32 minutes). Where do women get such twisted tales? Even without the twist, this book (My Lovely Wife) is twisted! 

And maybe not -- it's raining again, and there is still lightning and thunder. Probably best to not walk in the forest, although the storm isn't as close. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Splashdown

OH --- I had the blog already to go and then forgot to press PUBLISH!!!

OH MY --- I'm totally obsessed with making up these presentations. When people are interested, I'm prepared to go to the ends of the Earth to find the information. I spend tons of time researching stuff for my groups and even if they don't appreciate it, (I'm sure most of them do!), I still learn a ton of stuff by finding the information. 

I just discovered something else that I need for my research. I'll share it all next week! 

Did anyone watch the splashdown of Artemis 2 last night? I was glued to that. It's hard to comprehend that the space capsule was hurtling towards Earth at approximately 24,000 MPH, and within 15 minutes, it was floating down at 32 MPH with three massive parachutes attached. I must say, when the final three parachutes deployed, my heart was in my mouth as it seemed to take forever for them to fully open!! 

What an adventure, and I'm sure those four astronauts will be very busy in the next couple of months as they process everything - both the data they captured and what their brains and bodies processed! I found it totally fascinating, and I'm glad to say I was able to watch both moon missions, though I only remember the 1969 moon landing, not the liftoff or the splashdown. Perhaps we didn't watch any of the rest, or more likely, there just wasn't the same coverage as this time due to the lack of technology. 

I had an interesting day as I madly worked on samples for my upcoming presentations on Monday. I'll be at Quilty Pleasures (Ottawa), and the events are open to anyone. Check the calendar at that link. 

As usual, I'm learning loads -- it really doesn't matter that none of this is new to me -- it's just that the technology keeps getting updated. My experience and knowledge expand, so I'm better at it every time I give a new presentation!!

OH MY GOODNESS --- the day started with cleaning the floor in Studio B, and then I noticed a lot of dog hair wound around the wheels of one of my chairs, so I cleaned that as well. The joys of hair! Don't worry --- even if you don't have a dog, this will happen, and I've seen lots of hair getting wound up in the wheels of walkers and wheelchairs last week!!! Long human hair! I guess that's one reason to keep your hair short, but even short hair will get wound around the wheels. Let's not forget the threads!!!

Dog hair wound on the wheels

I'm happy to report (knock on wood) that my cell phone seems to be working much better than it was. I'm able to take phone calls, and my voice doesn't disappear. However, old habits die hard, and I am still cautious when answering the phone or settling into a lengthy conversation because I'm always thinking I'll cut out. It'll take me a long time to regain my confidence in my phone! 

A friend of mine recently got a puppy -- a Golden. She lives up north and was wishing the snow would disappear because it's getting soft and hard to walk on. WAIT!!!! Don't wish for that because the next stage is MUD and those goldens love their mud!!! 

I do not know why Miss Murphy insists that this flower bed is hers! It was even raining, and she was still content to sit out there and get wet and dirty. The dirtier and wetter the better! Sigh...........

MOM - thanks for providing this beautiful outdoor dog bed for ME!!!!

And then this is the two of them in the house later in the day. Seriously? How would you caption this picture? It looks like Lexi beat up Murphy, when I'm pretty sure that Murphy lay on the floor to make Lexi feel superior. How civil is that, especially for a golden who is pretty much in your face all the time!!! 

They are just a hoot to watch and provide hours of entertainment. 

MOM - Murphy is broken!! And it's not my fault!

I stole these pictures from Cynthia Frenette's Facebook page. This is the artwork she created for a new fabric collection. OK --- those flowers look simple, yet it's not something that I would be able to do. I love her simplistic style and the colors - grey, white, yellow, and black- are right up there with the modern crowd. 

Cynthia's artwork

And there's the resulting fabrics. The collection, called Blissful Blooms, is produced by Ink & Arrow. Here's a link to their page so you can see it better. Ink & Arrow is the "modern" fabric division of QT Fabrics. 

In the interesting world of fabric production, this collection was available for shipping in January 2026. But all fabric companies produce limited early yardage (digitally printed) or GASP—some companies print the fabric, and it sits in a warehouse until it's time to ship to stores!! You can't have all the fabrics shipping at the same time, so the delivery dates are staggered. 

Here's a quilt that was remade with this collection. 

If you look at the picture of the marketing material linked to the fabric collection, you'll see this. All those images are digitally produced. They used to be REAL quilts, but many companies, especially in the modern world, do not actually make the items—they just render the fabric onto shapes to give consumers ideas for where and how the fabrics can be used. 

It doesn't really matter—many of us are visual learners, and whether it's a rendered drawing or a real picture, I think we all get the ideas!!! 

I absolutely adore the contemporary floral print that you see on the bottom of that marketing page. It's so soft and pretty, and the repeats are AMAZING. You really don't see the repeat -- well, you do if you look for it, but some repeats, especially of large-scale animals, just look fake! 

Well, nothing specific on the agenda for today as far as meetings or online stuff, but I'll be busy as a bee in Studio B as I assemble my samples for Monday and as I make new ones. By the way -- the information on the Quilty Pleasures website says the instructor is Claire. I'm subbing for her as she is unable to do the events. 

And on that happy note - I'm out of here!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Travel day with Bear

 I should have said that the blog posts will be out of whack time-wise - at least this morning, since I am now three hours behind my usual time zone. 

And YES -- the chocolates could have been on sale, which is why I didn't get the senior discount. DUH! I didn't notice that fact when I picked them up. There are days when I wonder how I manage to get through the day and still be alive! 

This is NOT good news for my foot - I think I'm going to lose another toenail. It's looking pretty sketchy at the moment, and well, it won't surprise me if it goes. 

That will make three in a row on the right foot! 

Someone commented on our medical system and how you practically have to demand certain things be done. This is a shame, and I wonder if it's a reluctance on the part of the doctor, the system, or resources? I get it that there are a lot of people who want to abuse the system, demanding tests when nothing is wrong with them. But it's a challenge to know who to talk to and how to proceed. 

Wouldn't it be great if those billionaires out there with all their money could put it to good use? We need a device that scans our body and gives a checklist of what could be done to improve our body - oh, you are low in this vitamin, or you need a knee replacement, or whatever. Wouldn't it be great to get a list like that? Think back to Star Trek - there are things on that show that we thought totally out of this world when that show first aired in 1966! Oh my --- I was a wee lass then! Very wee! However, some of those things are now common. I can't wait for the teleporters to happen. Can you imagine? 

I need lots of stretching, which I didn't get to yesterday. It's like flossing - it's not in my daily schedule yet. Well, flossing is more in my daily schedule now - it just takes time for it to become part of the schedule. I'm up early, and breakfast isn't for a while, and I'm starving! So perhaps I'll stretch to pass the time! The problem with stretching is that it's good for one day, just like flossing, and then you have to start all over again. But just hope that the second time, the discomfort is less! 

I hadn't slept well the night before, so I was tired, and I knew I had a long day ahead of me. When I got Bear's travel case out of the closet, he almost flipped out with excitement. As happy as he was to be with us, he certainly loves to travel. He was NOT getting out of that case because he didn't want to be left behind. I've never heard him make so many squeaking noises since he arrived. His quilt is at the bottom, so he's good. 

GRANDMA -- where are we going? 

And I said this before, but here it is officially, this is the "fill your water bottle station" at the airport! I hadn't noticed it until we had to wait 30 minutes in line before boarding. OK - we didn't need to be in line, but people are creatures of habit and they line up! They just do - even before the boarding is announced. Let's just say the station got lots of use while we waited. 

The water refill station

I had two suitcases to check, and then I carried my backpack and Bear's carrier on the plane. It's so much to deal with, but having a cart made it easier. BUT the one issue with traveling with a pet is that you can't get a boarding pass without seeing someone at the check-in desk. I have no idea why the line was so long. That area was for people who had trouble checking in at the kiosks or people with pets. I'm not even going to go there. There are people to help with the kiosks, but for whatever reason, there were lots of people in the trouble line. No worries - we had time. Yep -- we had time! I met a lady in the line who also had a dog. She was a breeder, taking a puppy to Kelowna, then hopping back on a plane and back to work this morning! 

We did NOT have time to get in the Tim's line, although we could have while we were waiting to board. I can live without the tea for one day! I did get a sandwich so I would have something to eat on the plane. 

Now that I know how to put Bear's case under the seat, we are all good. He settled right in, and I didn't feel like disturbing him, so I left him under the seat until about halfway. He started squeaking, so I placed his carrier on my lap. I had some treats for him, and he was happy and settled back down. 

A little more turbulence than I would like, but I just zone out and ignore it! 

When we got to Vancouver, I took him out of his carrier, and he was pretty happy about that! We had to wait a bit for the luggage to arrive, but all was good. Even though I took him to the pet relief area, he did NOT want to pee there. I don't blame him - it was pretty stinky! 

I'm FREE!!!!!

Then we went to the car rental place and I got the car, which was parked in the furthest line from the desk. But that's OK, the little one wanted to walk, but he still didn't do his business, so he stayed in his carrier in the car. 

Where are we going now? 

You have to love our apps on your phone. It takes a mere couple of minutes, if that, to connect to the Android or Apple CarPlay in the car, and it's just like being at home. If I want to play my radio station, I can. And without Google Maps, I'd be totally lost. Remember when we had to use maps? Good grief - I'm surprised there weren't more accidents! 

It was raining a bit and somewhat foggy, but typical weather for here and WARM. Although it was warm back home, and I brought a jacket, I haven't had to use it yet. 

When we arrived at the house, I took Bear out of the car, and he practically flung himself up the steps and to the front door. 

I'm HOME - this is my front door! 

He was super happy, although no one was home. He wasn't into eating, so the two of us hung out on the couch and had a good nap. 

Catching up on nap time

While Vancouver is a beautiful, quite varied city, with lots of bridges and drives through Stanley Park to get across to West Vancouver, traffic is less pleasant. There are NO highways in this city - wait for that. But to get from the airport to West Vancouver, it's quite the drive. It took 50 minutes to make the drive. I suppose part of that is my being used to having highway the entire way from my house to the airport, and only 20 minutes, and you're good. But if I didn't live near the highway - well, that's a different story. But still -- there is NO highway through the city. 

Lion's Gate Bridge

I had to do an event last night at a dealer in Langley - Castle Sewing, and I had checked earlier in the day as to the distance and time. Distance-wise, it wasn't that far - about 50 KM, and at that time of the day, it was going to take 50 minutes. The highway is not far from M's house (it doesn't go anywhere near the airport), but remember that it is raining and Friday afternoon, and when I was about to leave, this is what popped up on Google Maps. 

Travel time more than doubled

You have to love Google Maps - I know I already said that, but when we got in the car at home, the map came up with the airport as a destination. Why? Because I had the flight booked in my Google calendar. And this popped up because I had checked Google Maps earlier. Yep --- the traffic on Friday afternoon at 3:00 was challenging! 

No accidents - just volume, but I had an audiobook (all hands free) and so all was good. 

Before I left, I took the little guy for a walk in the light mist. He was happy, and when I left him, he was curled up in his bed. Dillon got home about an hour later, and apparently, Bear freaked out and got a crazy case of the zoomies!!! What will happen when M gets home in a couple of days? 

Checking out his neighborhood

It's Saturday, so there shouldn't be any traffic issues on the way back to West Vancouver later tonight. 

I have an all-day event here, and we'll be checking out different sewing machines. Then I can share the pieces I made with you. 

For all of us in the sewing world, guess what? Sewing is cool again! HEY -- we were always cool - other people just didn't recognize it! 

Here's a link to the article; hopefully, it will work. 

We need to push this hard - sewing is cool! The stuff you can make, the uniqueness of it - well, I would NOT be without a sewing machine in my world. I feel for one of my aunts, who is in a nursing home with cognitive issues (the polite way of saying that she has dementia), and she isn't allowed a sewing machine. Probably because of all the pointy tools required to sew stuff. Can you imagine that? She is still very functional (with meds, of course), but has no access to a sewing machine. That would kill me!!! And every time I visit, she says that!

But I got to the hotel with time to spare, then I went for dinner and to the store (Castle Sewing), which is fantastic! It's in a new building, with the most gorgeous classroom on the top level that I've ever seen. There's a chair lift for heavy things or people. Not heavy people, but those who need the stairs! It's a four-generation family-owned business - the best kind! 

If you are in the Langley area, stop by to say hi or at least come and check out the store. And they have a fabric sale on. I shouldn't look - I have room in my suitcase! I shouldn't look, but I will! 

I had a good sleep last night, so that is good, and after the class today, well, more adventures await. This entire trip is full of different adventures, so after today, the rest is all fun. Well, that's a lie -- I love what I do, so today and last night are all about fun as well!!!

I still have an hour to kill before breakfast, so I guess I'd better get some stretching in and then a shower. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Back home - AGAIN!

OH MY GOSH  --- If I read Torry's comment correctly, she has a couple of the Nancy Drews with a 1938 copyright!! What a treasure! While I'm not a fan of most old things, I love old books! What a find, Torry! Be sure to reread them -- they are fun!

The new audiobook that I listened to on the way home - well, I wish the drive was longer! I'm just getting into the storyline, and it's a puzzler! While there is murder, it's more of a puzzle-type mystery and involves antiques! It's called "The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder," by C.L. Miller. It's her first novel! So cool. 

Her parents wrote the Miller's guides to antiquities. I love the premise of the story, which is that you don't murder for the dollar value of an antique, but for the sentimental or provenance value of the antique. I'll be digging out my new headphones later today so I can continue. I grabbed this from the books that were on the "skip-the-lines" list, meaning I have it for only 7 days. 

I'm not sure how that skip-the-lines list works, but if someone hasn't picked up a book yet? Does it go on that list? I'm not sure, but I nabbed this one anyway. 

It says in Libby that it's #1 in a series, and I'm excited, hoping she will write another!

I'm home! The girls are happy, and I think I was so excited to be home and ready to dive into this mess that I woke up in the night and couldn't get back to sleep. I slept in this morning, so I've "wasted" a couple of hours already. I'm not happy about that, but life goes on - get over it! 

The open house for Sewing Machine Magic was a great success, with many people stopping by. It was a constant flow of people the entire day, and the demos went over very well. As usual, while presenting the demos, I kept thinking to myself, 'I could use this stitch, tool, or accessory in another way.' The more you make, the more you "need" to make. They service sewing machines and sell Singer and PFAFF products. If you are in the area, be sure to check it out! 

And I met up with two ladies from the Buckhorn Quilt Show. They live in Cobourg and came to visit! 

I think I can safely say that my October is now FULL! I'll be working on my writing assignment, remaking a project using different methods that I need to deliver next weekend, creating a jigsaw puzzle (or two), and organizing and putting away items in Studio B and Studio U, as well as attending to paperwork. There are three customer quilts to quilt, the office needs to be cleaned, the computer files need to be organized, and there are hundreds of community project quilts to quilt, as well as a rather tall stack of quilts that need the binding stitched on. Hmmmm --- I don't think I'll be lacking anything to do in October. And I have a T-shirt quilt to make for my SIL, so I had better get started, as I received the T-shirts one year ago. 

At least, now I have some breathing room for the next month and beyond to actually catch up on some of this stuff. How will I tackle it? I'm not sure yet -- it's very overwhelming, but I have a couple of ideas, and I suppose you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see where I start. 

The important thing is NOT to fritter the time away. Someone alerted me to some escape room-type games that I could download on my tablet. I was bored in the hotel, so I attempted to do that, although it wasn't the same one. That was a dismal failure, and I deleted it immediately. I sent feedback that the download process was atrocious and then played two games of solitaire, which I found on my laptop, and shut that down pretty quickly as well. I do NOT need games to keep me entertained. I write and read to keep my brain sharp; others have their pastimes. I don't need another one. 

Plus, now that I'm home, it's time to crack open a new EXIT Game that DH and I can play at dinner! 

Actually, I may not start today, as I have to get things organized for Colour My World, but it's just one class, so it's going to be easy! 

You know me and technology! For the most part, all is working as it should. But when I went to get a glass of water at the cafeteria in the hotel, the machine stumped me. I pressed the buttons and nothing happened. Then I saw this sign. 

Getting water from the touchless dispenser

AHA --- you hold your hand in front of the three buttons on the bottom, and place your cup under the spout, and it will dispense whatever you have your hand in front of. Well, that's a new one, but I figured it out. Reading the instructions worked! 

But when I stopped for a bite last night at the OnRoute rest stop, I completely skipped these order kiosks. I remember trying them last year, and it just did not work. I could have tried again, but since it wasn't hectic, I went to the counter and placed my order. That works for me! 

Bypass the ordering kiosks

OK — you must check out the QUILTsocial.com link today. There is a free issue (Number 34), and it includes all the posts I wrote on stabilizers. YES --- this is a great way to get that information in a nice, neat format, so be sure to check it out. 

And then, once you've downloaded it, what are you going to do with it? 

Why read it, of course! There is no need to acquire any written material - whether digital or paper- if you have zero intention of reading it. You will not learn anything by osmosis! 

And once you read it, what are you going to do? Why you are going to experiment, of course!! Just like I did! 

Oh my -- the September event list is getting shorter every day, and I don't have to go anywhere for any of these events. The girls are ecstatic, and I don't have to pack anything. I'm ecstatic. 

September 27 - Colour My World (Online class hosted by me) at 9:30 AM. I need to send out an acknowledgment to those who have paid. But you have all the information you need. No supplies required for the first class. 

September 27 (Saturday) - Virtual Retreat - Starts at 6 PM EDT

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82693702241?pwd=QpQkm8Ppppy1XwCPOqva1bcgJCWKdP.1

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

September 28 - 10:30 AM --- Digital Cutter Club

September 28 (Sunday) Virtual Retreat - Starts at 3 PM EDT

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

Wait — there is one more thing I need to do today. When I got home last night, I went into the kitchen and spotted an F11 on the dishwasher. OH, DH saved that for me!! I'll deal with it this morning. 

And on that happy note, I'm out of here! There's a lot to do, and I'm going to take it nice and slow to enjoy the day!

Have a good day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Overwhelmed

I don't usually get overwhelmed by emotions, but I can easily control them when they happen in daily life. 

In the past, I had two experiences where I was someplace and was totally overwhelmed by feelings I couldn't describe, and I don't know why they were so powerful. 

The first was at the Anne Frank House (Museum) in Amsterdam. That was a profound experience that I'll never forget. It makes you want to scream that the family stayed hidden for so long, only to be betrayed by a "friend." It's much more complex than that, but you get the idea. 

M and I went to that Museum together, and it was simple, it was emotional, and we both came away feeling overwhelmed. 

The second time was at the Quilts of Valour booth at Quilt Canada in Toronto in 2016 or 2017. The show had yet to open for the day, and I was chatting to someone from Quilts of Valour. I had these overwhelming waves (and I mean WAVES) of intense emotions that ran through me that were indescribable. I wanted to sit down and sob my heart out. I wanted to cry for everyone whose life was changed by the war and for everyone who died or was injured or lost. It was the most intense emotional feeling, and I don't know where it originated. 

The third time was yesterday when I went on my little adventure to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The outside is quite unusual and I had no idea what to expect. The front entrance is almost like entering a cave and really didn't feel welcoming, but perhaps that was because of the content inside. 

Once inside, there are long ramps to get to the second floor. Hmm -- not very inviting or exciting - just like the front entrance. 

A long winding ramp to the second floor

Since I only had a little time, it was suggested I visit the permanent exhibits on the 2nd and 4th floors and the view tower on the 8th. 

Here's the thing about this Museum. The curators have put together very powerful displays with lots of visual impact. The amount of information posted is sparse but well done, and it shows that sometimes, a little says a lot. 

This wall is a timeline of 100 events that have affected human rights around the globe, starting CENTURIES ago.

Powerful wall of changes to improve human rights

This is a POWERFUL message. Why? Well, it shows that many changes have happened over HISTORY, and despite all those changes over MANY centuries, we still have issues today. I wonder if we are in a better or worse or status quo situation! 

The other thing that was front and center of this was the timing. I didn't know or remember that it was in 1982 - I was an ADULT then, that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was created to protect female equality. YES -- that was only FORTY years ago, which is NOT that long ago!! WOW -- that blew my mind. Remember, this is in Canada - a first-world nation. We've come far, but imagine the situations in some of the other countries around the world.  

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982

There are even more recent attempts worldwide to protect women, children, ethnicities, genders, etc, from abuse and violence and to have the same rights as others. It's shocking! Even more shocking is that one could ask yourself - "has anything changed?" A law will not change society - it can help protect, but until SOCIETY CHANGES, we are no further ahead than centuries ago. 

On a lighter note, I went to the top to get a view of the city. It's impressive, and I needed that quiet break. But then again, the emotions of being in that building were overwhelming. 

A view from the top

I took this picture because as I read it, it reminded me of a current (and not so distant) scenario regarding a leader in another country (close to me - not the person, but the country), and that same person is attempting to run again in a very senior political position. The similarities are uncanny!!! 

Does that not scare the crap out of you? 

What is upsetting in this situation is that we are NOT learning by looking back at history. Some people are prepared to wipe out the past, pretend that the bad people, bad decisions, etc, did NOT exist. How can we do that? What we must do is embrace that history -- it is what has formed who we are today. We must learn from that history so we don't regress or make those same mistakes. And SOME states south of me have REGRESSED in their position of women's rights. That is EXTREMELY disturbing and extremely scary. 

I don't know why "we" (whoever they are) are so intent on making the world one big happy place. We should focus on what to do TODAY instead of erasing something that can't be changed. That concept just boggles my mind. 

I barely skimmed the surface of what is in that Museum, and there is a great exhibit coming up next year. I might just have to get out here to visit. I suggest you either come multiple days or come first thing and visit for an hour or two and then come back later in the day. Even though the displays are extremely well thought out and simple, there is too much to cover in one day!

On a lighter note, here's the sign outside Carellen Sewing Center! Thanks to Barb and Micheal for hosting me for three days. It was great fun, and I can't wait to return to Winnipeg! I wonder what weather they will dream up for me!!

The sign at Carellen Sewing Center

Now I'm heading to the airport shortly. Good lord, these time zone changes are killing me. I swear my plane was to leave at 8 AM. Then I got a note saying my plane was delayed by 50 minutes, and we are now leaving at 7:50 AM. Oops -- I guess the original flight was at 7 AM in this time zone! Oh well - I'm mere minutes from the airport and have loads of time to shower, pack the car, and get to the airport. 

Then it's home and back to work this afternoon, as there is much to prepare for the weekend classes!!!

And a huge thank you to two friends, one who lives in Winnipeg, who suggested I visit the Museum for Human Rights. Otherwise, I didn't even remember that it was here. If you are here - it's well worth a visit. 

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!

On the road again!

CRUD -- the internet wasn't working this morning! I'm now late!

My blister feels better today since I popped it, but it'll take some time for all the dead skin (ICK) to disappear. I hope at some point that it'll completely heal. I just don't understand the mechanics of feet and why that poor little toe continues to be crushed even when there's lots of room. Now, there is a bunion on that foot and it's quite possible that the bunion is causing the crushing, in which case, there is nothing I can do to prevent it. Poor little toe! 

So we had an interesting day at Embellish in Coburg. The drive was great -- no need to take the toll highway to escape the city and it took about 1½ hours, not the two that I first anticipated. That was a good thing because by the time I left the house, I was late! 

But I swear some of the risks people take on the highway would blow your mind. Well, if you drive on the highway, you already know. My car has the cruise control set to keep a safe distance from the car in front. How many people don't respect that? I know -- sometimes, I have to cut into the traffic in order to change lanes, but I saw people in the left-most lane, drive completely to the right (across four or five lanes) of traffic and then immediately swing back into the left-most lane, just to pass a car. I swear if they have those alerts in their car, they must be constantly beeping. 

It's bad when cars do it, it's terrifying when a motorcycle does it. There are a few times when I've been in the left most lane while passing a truck. I had one guy on my tail, but not for long and then I was able to move over. Then he proceeds to cut immediately in front of me - Why? Is he mad or stupid? Oh -- I don't even need to answer that question. 

The drive home was equally traffic free, although I did run into a couple of construction areas where we had to slow down as the traffic merged into one lane. Those lane closures were marked well in advance that one could have taken the collector lanes to bypass, but all in all, it didn't slow the traffic down much. 

Then as I was getting closer to home, I wasn't sure if the entrance ramp to the highway past my house was open. But it was, although the single lane seemed pretty narrow. I rounded the corner and thought Armageddon had arrived. On the neighboring highway, I swear that every piece of road paving equipment had been commandeered. It was a sea of lights and looked like total chaos. Obviously no time for pictures, but it looked like a horrible traffic accident with all the flashing lights. I wonder how long that project is going on? 

I made it home by 11:30 PM, which made for a long day, but it was a good day. I love visiting a new store - well, new to me. So if you are in the Coburg neighborhood, check out Embellish. They are part of the 401 Quilt Run which involves 13 stores along the 401 corridor. The Cobourg store is the furthest west and runs all the way to the Quebec border. A great trip for the month of October and the quilt that you collect blocks for is gorgeous! I believe you have to buy the kits for the blocks. 

There are no pictures today -- hard to take pictures and drive or do a presentation! The two groups left with plenty of inspiration and ideas on what to create next! 

Here's a strange observation. Did Ireland have a big SALE sign on it this year? I know so many people who have gone or are going to Ireland this year. I wonder how that happened? I've never been, but I'd go to Wales or England before, simply because of family ties. 

If anyone is interested, there is a short documentary film starring a quilter. Her name is Marilyn Farquhar (she used to live in the Waterloo area) and is an award winning quilter. The documentary is about her brother who was killed by the RCMP and her healing journey through her quilts. It'll be at the London (Ontario) film festival on October 22nd and I believe it will also be at the Abbotsford Film Festival. Oops -- that already happened at the end of August. 

Remember it's my week on QUILTsocial, and there's a great project to make. I need to make a couple more of them and by the end of next week! Today it's all about gathering fabric, so be sure to get yours out and follow along. 

OK -- the dogs are walked -- that's a huge job these days, but almost 10,000 steps so that helps with the daily totals. 

Sorry --- Grammarly isn't working because of the internet, so give me some space with errors! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!

Which came first?

We had a great day at Thimble Quilts and Sewing in Lasalle, Ontario. There's always so much to show, and doesn't seem like enough time to show all the samples and explain all the techniques. The poor students who attended went home with their heads spinning from all the inspiration and information!

We had a great lunch chatting with the customers and a good look around the store. A few things came home with me. And I bought fabric - somewhat willy-nilly, which I haven't done in a long time. 

However, I saw some gorgeous batiks and decided that I needed them. Not just because I liked them but because I need to work on a quilt for an upcoming class, and I think these will be perfect. I love the coloring, and it's not the original color I thought I might use, but it works beautifully with the background, as I found out when I got home last night. 

I may need to add to it, and I may need to purchase more, but I'll deal with that later this week. 

I had the embarrassing moment of calling the shop owner by a totally different name halfway through the day, and then do you think I could get that out of my head. It was like my brain had just switched. I was holding a witch pillow when I first used a different name, and I'm blaming it on that! She bewitched me! I managed to get back on track, and then all was good! So weird, though. 

And we did have the most fantastic shortbread you could imagine. I confess that the moment I was done with the first piece, I literally felt a craving for more. That doesn't happen often. 

We arrived home around 10:00 PM but only made it to bed just after midnight, as we had some loose ends (embroidery project!) to finish. I think I'll be napping later today! However, we got everything done that we wanted to, but the sample suitcases will sit in the living room for a few days! 

There is nothing better than a road trip with a companion, especially a driving road trip! We stopped twice, but I didn't feel tired in the four-hour drive home! And we talked about everything and anything! Let's say I got to know Claire better than I knew her!

Traveling can sometimes be a pain regarding what to eat and when, and for the last two days, I think I ate less than I would if I were home. And today is not going to be any better. 

We spotted this while walking through the parking lot to Tim's the other night. 

Who drives this car?

I've no idea why or how that was there, but it was hilarious. "Honey - I shrunk the car!" I'm surprised that no one had run over it! 

And here's a couple of pictures that were hanging in my hotel room. Doesn't that scream flying geese to you?  

But this one? That's the Dutchman Puzzle quilt block. Both of these were painted!!!! 

Now, here's the ultimate question -- which came first? Did this design as a quilt block come first, or was the design a long-known one that was made into a quilt block? 

So I popped over to Google, and this is what I found. But -- it doesn't answer my question! \

It is a very old, very traditional pattern and, of course, goes by several other names. It appeared in the Ohio Farmer in 1894 as the "Wheel" and again in 1898 as the "Dutchman's Wheel". The Ladies Art Company called it "Dutchman's Puzzle," and that is what I believe is the most commonly used name for this block. April 7, 2020

If you think it will get calmer around here, think again! I'm off on another adventure in about one hour, and you'll see where tomorrow. The beauty of this crazy time is that I don't have to worry about juggling classes because nothing is scheduled until October 1. But when I'm back, there will be little time to finish prepping, and then I'll be back into the swing of classes. 

And I had a peek at my walking challenge, and I'm behind! I've managed to eke out 5% of the distance in 9% of the time. This is NOT like me, but there hasn't been time to walk. That should change today? I can easily make up the time, and the worst of the crazy travel is over - I hope! 

I may take a wee bit of it with me to do some planning. OK -- not much planning, but thinking ahead is always a good idea! 

So I must go and get myself organized for the day. 

Have a great day!

Ciao!!!!

Barn trails!!!!

Yes --- those little holes in the front garden look neatly arranged, but we do NOT have any flowers there. That was all newly planted last year, and unless the landscape company did something I'm not aware of -- we only have those little shrubs. Since we didn't see any flowers in the spring, I'm guessing whoever is digging is looking for grubs!!!  DH is beyond himself with whoever is digging. OK -- time to get that game cam out and set it up. 

What a whirlwind day yesterday was, and I'm running short on time this morning - again! I have a colleague traveling with me as she learns the ropes, and we were off to Petrolia for our event at Stitcharie. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive, and we made it with no issues, except we passed the plaza (JUST) and had to turn around, which was no big deal. 

It was kind of nice to have someone help with the set-up, as I never get that luxury! We had two sessions - one on applique and one on quilting and both were a full house! It was a fun day with loads of laughs, and Laurie provided us with an awesome lunch. Apparently, she is known for her lunches! 

I believe she has a Super Bowl Mystery quilt day, and she provides lunch. Hmm -- that's tempting to come to -- just for lunch! 

I always love looking around the store to see if there are any treasures, and there is always something, so two small things came home with me. NO pictures yet of that. 

The classroom is great, with loads of room, so we were able to spread out the samples on the wall, and then one by one, they got passed around so everyone could have a better look at them. 

Applique and quilting samples

More samples

Sometimes, those samples go around multiple times as we discuss different techniques, etc. 

It's so easy to scare people. You tell them there is a test and they all go crazy! It was a super easy question, but I like to see the reaction! 

Hopefully, everyone went home with some inspiration, a better appreciation of available tools for them to be creative, and how better to use their sewing machines. 

There just isn't time in the entire process to cover everything, and I swear that every time I arrange my presentation to cover everything. I think I forgot one thing from each presentation yesterday simply because we didn't go through all the material, so those things will get moved. 

We popped everything into the car and headed off to Windsor, which is where I am today, and we'll be off shortly to Thimble Quilts and Sewing to spend the day with machine embroidery!!!! It was late by the time we got in, and although we had a late dinner, I'm hungry!

If you are in this area, there are MANY barn trails here, and we spotted some quilt barn blocks along the way. We stopped to get three pictures to share with you. 

I believe there are several books on the barn trails, and there is certainly lots of information on the internet about these barn trails. Some of them, as you can see, are NOT on barns but standing near the edge of the road where they are easy to see. 

This one was barely visible behind the cornfields. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!