Monday Sewing

It's a challenge sometimes to post about something the day after it occurs. Too much stuff happens at my house to stay totally on top of it.

I can't wait to share with you what happened yesterday. It was a scheduled CLEANUP day and oh boy - I'm literally dancing!!!  But that's for tomorrow.

Today, it's all about our Monday sewing and a few other things thrown in.

Since it was our last Monday sewing of the year, we had a pot luck lunch. I LOVE pot lucks! I'm always amazed at out how it works for the savory versus the sweets. We had a bit more savory than sweets which worked out just fine.

Part of the spread for the pot luck

Thank goodness, pot lucks don't happen often. I had a nice lunch including soup and then I felt awful for the afternoon and into the evening. Not awful for what I ate, but how much I ate. I don't eat huge meals anymore and my stomach wasn't happy. What I should have done was eat a bit of the hot stuff, save some of the cold stuff for a snack in the afternoon and the sweets for dinner. I didn't eat dinner that night which is totally unheard of for me.

So there was a lesson to be learned here. Pot lucks are OK, but you (meaning me) CANNOT eat a huge meal so don't even try. Look at it, pace it out and go from there or just eat less or don't try everything. Darn!!!

There are always some very creative and exciting things going on at Monday sewing. I want to make everything, but that's just silly. I know that isn't going to happen, so I just look and enjoy.

Here's a zippered pouch made by Tish. The pattern is the Sew Together Bag by SewDemented. Very cute - there are three zippered sections inside and four non-zippered sections. I wonder how much stuff you can actually put in it and then zip it back up? I love Tish's Home Ec fabric on the outside. Just a side note - if you do a search on the Sew Together Bag, a TON of stuff comes up. Tutorials by video and tutorials that are written, loads of pictures - inside and out. Now how does this work? If I offer a tutorial, why do you need a pattern? Oh - to get the measurements. It's a very fine line for copyright. Not going to worry about it!

Tish made a Sew Together bag

Loretta was quietly working on these ADORABLE applique blocks. WHOA!!!  I've never seen these before. The patterns are designed by a Canadian (A Quilter's Home in Lacombe, Alberta) and they apparently were made for the 150th Canadian Celebration in 2017. The critters are the cutest and you can buy with a kit of Kaffe Fasset fabrics or just the patterns. There are 12 in total. Wait - I think she's added some more - yep there are SEVENTEEN in total. Have a look at the website (link above) to check these patterns out.

Applique pattern

Now I'm popping back to the Sunday Sit n Sew.  Thanks to Liz, I'm now the owner of a new bookmark. You can NEVER have too many bookmarks. Thanks, Liz! That diamond technique is done with a ruler. I can't remember the name of the ruler at the moment, but it's a ruler. WAIT - a quick search revealed the ruler is called the Double Diamond Ruler by Bright Quilting Notions. Their website wasn't working but here's a link to a store that sells the product. 

New bookmark!

And Liz offered me this wooden tote. I think it was originally supposed to be for condiments, but she used it on her cutting table. After a wee bit of downsizing, she didn't have room for it any longer. Hmm - I'm in the process of putting stuff in it. You'll have to wait to see what I put in it.

Wooden tote for studio supplies

Oops - here's one more picture from Monday. This is what I'm now appliqueing. It's a block from the quilt called Nana's Farm. My goal is to get several blocks prepped over the holidays so I can just stitch on the Mondays. Although, I've learned that I cannot stitch all day without boring myself to death. I need to make sure that there is other stuff on the agenda as well.

My applique block

The long arm doesn't know what hit it! It's been working every day with no rest. There's an update to be done - a software update. First, I have to update the tablet (that runs the long arm) to Windows 10 and then update the robot software. I'm NOT about to do that at this point in time in the event there are issues. There are THREE customer quilts left. Then I'll do the update.

Customer quilt - DONE

 That one was picked up yesterday. I did this one yesterday. It's for Quilts of Valour. It needs to be trimmed and it'll go today. In case you're perceptive about this kind of thing - did you notice that this picture is NOT on an angle and NOT that weird perspective. Oh yes - you have to wait for the pictures tomorrow to understand why.

Quilts of Valour quilt

I accomplished quite a bit of paperwork yesterday and that was great. I've got another couple of hours lined up this morning and then I'll be in Studio B for the rest of the day. I love the fact that I put on my calendar some things that need to be done for me. Each day, I open my calendar and it's a surprise what I'm allowing myself to work on. Today it's sample making! I have several things that need to be done and so today is the day.

I even had time to walk to the library to pick up a book that was on hold and I got two more out. I know - I couldn't help myself! And I listened to a good portion of the Linwood Barclay - Elevator Pitch. OH MY - it's a good book.

So here's the thing about books. You can get an e-book and instead of reading it electronically, you can have the computer read it to you. Why the heck would you do that? I'd be bored to tears having a monotone computer read me the story. BUT if you have an audiobook - well, most of the narrators are EXCELLENT. And the inflection added by their voices is incredible. I just love it. Now, I might have done a bad thing. I requested and downloaded The Haunting of Hill House on audiobook? Am I going to scare myself to death listening to that one opposed to reading it? My go-to at the library these days is an audiobook. Then the hard copy! I'm so not into reading the book electronically unless it's the only option. Besides - I like to use my bookmarks!

On that note, I've got loads to get done today and I'd better get started.

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!

On your MARK!

Just had to watch the Libs Elliot/Absolut video again this morning.  I LOVE that video. I think it's beautiful, I love the collaboration and I'm darn proud to be a Canadian!  Now, what other Canadian products can we put a quilt on the label of???  How about French's ketchup??  Let's get our thinking caps on and get quilts everywhere. Perhaps one day, quilts will have the level of respect that the quilting industry deserves. 

If you missed the video yesterday, here's the link again.  It's really cool. 

Before I went on retreat, I was madly searching for some fabric.  I never did find the fabric, but yesterday, I managed to snag new pieces of what was missing. However, in the midst of searching, I managed to find the Tuffet pattern that I had lost. I've since had to buy a new one so now I have TWO!  Isn't that always the way!

Missing tuffet pattern is now found!

Yes - I think it would be a great idea to keep a list of all the things that are lost in a year and then keep track of how many get found!  It's all a matter of keeping things where they belong.  I do a pretty good job of doing that, but every once in a while, something goes missing.  I think I've always been able to find everything - eventually. And I have to laugh when I see where the missing things end up!  This tuffet pattern was in an IKEA bag with odds and ends from cleaning off those darn work tables. But NOT in the same place, I found the missing Halloween fabric!

I think it would be good one day, to go through all the stuff on the floor and in that IKEA bag, sort it, tag it, bag it, label it or whatever so that when I do want something in the future, I know exactly where it is. In an ideal world, I'd be able to finish the stuff off, but that isn't going to happen for a while!


As part of my tidying up, I have several gifts that people gave me.  Look at this fabulous tea towel with a bicycle embroidered on it.  I know - almost too pretty to use. BUT - if I keep this and never use it, what's the point of getting it?  I know --- so the bike towel will be in the kitchen tonight!

Bike tea towel!

I also got this beautiful bookmark.  Amazing how many people don't read real books anymore, but I would be lost without a real book.  I'm OK with electronic, but I forget to read the darn things!  And you can't ever use cool bookmarks like this.

Beaded bookmark

I also received this cool little pouch.  But really?  Hellraiser?  OK - it's appropriate! I have learned from various scenarios throughout my life that I'm a bit more of a risk taker than some. I may not do some of the craziest things, but I'm definitely NOT at the bottom of the scale for taking risks.

Hellraiser?  Hell yes!

A bit thank you to Katheleen, Claudette, and Susan. I love the gifts and they are all going to be used!!!!!

Remember the item I posted the other day - the button, magnet, and ribbon???

What is this????

Well, Sylvia responded that it's a bookmark. Hmmm - now that's a neat idea. I've been searching the internet trying to find an example of it, but no luck.  I've seen other similar bookmarks where the ribbon is long enough that it goes around the pages and attaches on the front of the book.  This one is too short for that. BUT I figured that it works like this - you undo the magnet part and use the ribbon as the bookmark - the button sticks out the top of the book and the little knobby thing sticks out the bottom of the book. When you're reading your book, you can attach the magnets together and it becomes a bracelet that you wear so you don't lose the bookmark. However since I FOUND the bookmark, you can still lose the darn thing!!!!

Am I in the ball park on that???

On that note, I've got a super busy day again.  And better get started.

Have a super day!

Ciao!