It's Zoom time!

 Oh gosh --- it's a good that I did some tidying up the previous day cause it looks awful this morning. 

I had two Zoom sessions yesterday, and while one was the same content (sergers) as I offered last year, it was in a different language from the previous time, so a few things had to be changed to accommodate that. The other event (applique) is brand new, and resulted in tearing the place apart, looking for specific pieces or examples of stitching. 

I've ripped the tubs of tops to be quilted apart to find one quilt. TWO tubs need to be labeled as to their contents, which is bad. So I must get that done because it'll save this from happening in the future. 

Looking for a quilt

However, on a positive note, I found this table runner. I was trying to find it for my presentation, but I thought it was quilted, so I wasn't technically looking for it in this spot. Nope -- it's only partially quilted. However, this is perfect for something I need to quilt for some pictures, so that was a good thing. The table runner is cute, and it's time it got completed! Can you believe I even found a label with it? This is one I can travel with, and I need it! 

My unfinished table runner

One of my events was to do with sergers; they were sitting on the floor as part of the stuff I brought home last week. So they got unpacked and put in place. 

The sergers in the "film" studio

OK --- I realized last night while setting up the sergers that I can use my three portable design walls to make a "studio" with blank walls. 

Yep --- you can see the bookcases behind in this shot. 

I love the "blank" wall look

These are the air-threading PFAFF sergers. My camera is on the left, and I thought I'd be brave and try a LIVE shot of threading them! I am daring, but I also know how trustworthy these sergers are. Did it work? You bet! On the first try. That's how beautiful these sergers are -- one shot of air. The one on the left (Admire 5000) is NOT computerized, but the one on the right (Admire Air 7000) is, and it's also a cover stitch. Since I'm becoming more familiar with sergers, that's my GO-TO serger. I WANT a cover stitch serger always!

I dug a few things out of the suitcase as well. At Verbeek Glass Studio, I purchased a few things from the gift shop. This is a cardinal, and I couldn't let it stay in the shop. They are so beautiful. It now sits on my kitchen windowsill. I don't like having a lot of stuff around, but this was too pretty to leave behind. 

A cardinal for the kitchen windowsill

I was supposed to have an event later today, but it had to be postponed, so that leaves me free the entire day. I'll be writing and quilting all day, and I have classes to prep for the weekend. It's still going to be a busy day, but I won't be running around taking pictures and making presentations. 

It was pretty easy to get back into the swing of things. Oh, and then I had a conference call on top of everything yesterday. That took longer than I had hoped, but all good information and some work came out of that one. But nothing I can't handle. 

I don't know about you, but I hope you get out in this glorious weather. Even the large snowbanks are disappearing quickly. The temperature is out of whack, and it didn't even go below freezing last night. So I'm outside walking without a hat, mitts, or scarf, and my jacket is wide open. Even then, when I got home, I was sweating, which was unusual! 

OH --- if you want to download the FREE issue of QUILTsocial, here's the link. I sure hope you all follow QUILTsocial. It's a free blog, and there is a lot of helpful information there, including techniques and projects. Carla has lined up some great talent for the blog posts, and they cover projects or techniques or whatever. From time to time, she will compile some of the articles into a digital download. I don't have anything in this issue, but that's OK because my stuff was dominant in one of the previous issues. It all works out, so be sure to check this out. 

And yes, it's Wednesday, and I'm off to spin class! Yeah! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Glass fusing -- before and after

 OK -- so I'm still at the hotel. A few left last night, and more are leaving this morning, but three of us are staying until this afternoon. We have MORE work to do! 

While it's been a lot of work, it's also been a fun week. We've been able to get to know each other a bit more, and we've learned a ton, and it was well worth the time to be here. 

I don't think I know how much I must do when I get home. I'm in denial. I'm always in denial when I travel. I forget about what needs to be done because there's nothing I can do about it when I'm sitting in a hotel room. Then I get home, and BAM! the totality of what I need to do hits me. 

Before I get home, I should write a list (I know -- I LOVE lists) and try to get myself organized so things don't get lost. I have some writing to do this coming week and a project to complete, and those two things are PRIORITY; then I can focus on other stuff. 

But I also have Virtual Events - I have three this week and then my regular classes, so yes -- it's business as usual, and we'll make it happen. 

As much fun as it's been, I'll be glad to get home. My car is mostly packed, but a few more things to add later today. I laughed as I offered my colleague a ride to the airport. I'll barely be able to get in the car as there's so much stuff in there. You don't want to know. But that's part of the fun of the job -- you get to play with toys -- LOTS and LOTS of toys. 

Despite the crappy weather yesterday, I still managed to get 12.5 KM in. How? I went for a long walk in the morning, and I got to the turnaround point when we started to get a bit of ice accretion. I wasn't wet when I returned to the hotel, but it started raining shortly after I arrived, so my timing was good. 

I've taken the elevator maybe twice since we've been here and always have to walk to the far corner of the hotel to take the stairs and then back to my room. So it's easy to get those KM in. This morning, it's nicer outside, so it shouldn't be a problem. 

My photo of the day on my walk? I spotted the GO train as it pulled to a stop. 

The GO train

After we got back to the hotel from dinner, I went to my room while the others stayed in the lobby to chat. I had not slept well the previous night and was tired. And the glass guy was doing us a huge favor and delivered our bowls. I got a text, so I went downstairs (in my PJs) to see them. 

OH MY --- they are stunning!!!! 

All the bowls/trays

And here's my bowl. 

My finished bowl

I absolutely LOVE it. It's beautiful, and seeing how the others turned out was fascinating. I'll post before and after pictures of each, but not today. 

My bowl BEFORE firing

So if you want to give your hand at GLASS FUSING, check out Verbeek Glass Studio. Layne is an excellent instructor; he loves his craft and will take good care of you. If you don't want to make fused glass, he has a gift shop, and I can't wait to get home and open up my treasures.

On that note, it's time to get moving for my walk. It's going to be another long day -- well, that's not true. It's going to be a short day but intense. So I better get some steps in to give me energy!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!!

Glass fusing

 WOW --- I quickly glanced at the comments, and we are all learning new things! Life is just so cool!

OK -- this is not to make you jealous, but I have the BEST job in the world. Keep in mind that I have several jobs, and I LOVE all of them. Who else can say that? I met someone yesterday who says the same thing. He used to work in health care, and now he's an artist and LOVES every minute of his day. He probably doesn't make the same amount of money, but health and happiness trump money any day! 

Let's put it this way -- if you are in the crafty business, you're more likely working with like-minded people, and it's easier to have conversations as they "get it." You can be crazy, and they get that as well. There is much creativity involved in what I do, and we get all kinds of toys to play with. I was going to say adult toys, but that might not be the most appropriate way of phrasing it! 

And I hear some new stuff is coming down the pipelines, but if I breathe a word of it -- off with her head! And your heads as well. So those are best kept as secrets for the moment. 

I zipped along the 407 in perfect time --- why can't all highways be that uncongested. There is a price for that freedom, however. The car got unloaded with stuff, and we started the day with a meeting. Yep -- there are meetings, and there are meetings. The meetings are not such a big deal if you're with like-minded people. 

But it was the afternoon that was a riot. In light of team building, we went on an adventure to Leslieville, a district of Toronto. I'm unfamiliar with all these areas, as I'm suburban. 

It was cool to see the CN Tower from the opposite side that I had been on the previous day. And a little bit closer as well. 

The CN Tower

So we headed off to Verbeek Glass Studio in Leslieville. 

Verbeek Glass Studio

The owner, Layne, is amazing! He is very personable and happy as a clam in his "new" job. There is a gift shop if you don't want to make anything yourself, and despite my rule of not buying knick-knack stuff, I purchased two items which you'll see when I get home. None of us had ever done this before. OH -- what were we doing? Glass fusing. We were shocked at how easy the entire process was. 

All you need are three tools and some glass! 

Tools to cut Glass

After a quick lesson, we went "glass shopping," and we were off. It was a challenge to get started. What colors to use, what design to make, and so on. But as the process continued, we became more comfortable, and soon I had something bright happening. I know you all expected something orange, and there are bits of orange. I like orange, but I also like BRIGHT. And yes -- I should have taken that photo before I wrote my name on the sheet underneath. These will be fused and will become bowls. 

My fused glass piece

We were a diverse group, and it showed in our final projects. Five of the nine pieces are square (we had a choice), and blue is the favored color. Some are geometric with straight lines, while others are bits and pieces. And there is a very neutral one. That will be so amazing. I can hardly wait to see it. NO ONE created a quilt block! That thought never even occurred to me. 

Step One of our glass bowls

Verbeek Glass Studio offers many other classes, so if anyone is interested, you can book a class. They also do workshops for kids, which would be so cool. 

I found this in the washroom. Oh my!!!

A rubber duck "obsession"

More rubber ducks

Those are rubber ducks! I said to Layne that someone has an obsession. And he called it something else which escapes me at the moment, but he's an artist -- he gets it! OH -- I think he called it a collection! Yes -- it's a collection, not an obsession!!!

You should check out the gift shop, as the items are reasonably priced and beautiful. He also does commissions, and some of those he showed or described will be stunning. 

I finished a bit early, so I headed out for a walk. I needed more steps for the day and got 12.8 KM in. I was happy. Today will be more challenging as we're in meetings all day, so I'll be heading out soon for a walk. 

Walking down Queen Street

We popped down to The Distillery District for dinner. I think I've been there once. It's a cool area, although a lot of it was shut down last night. But no matter, we found a pub to eat in, and the food was excellent. 

The Distillery District

We passed the LOVE sign with all the locks attached to it. Hmm - how many of those people are still together? 

Locks of love

The LOVE sign with all the locks

I'm sure lots of you have seen bridges (especially in European cities) with locks on them. Some cities have cut the locks off because the added weight was too much for the bridges!!!

I had not slept well the night before (too excited for this week?), so thankfully, it was an early night. I read for 5 minutes, and then I was out! 

That's it for me today!!

Have a super day, and think about your job and what you do all day! It had better be fun!!

Ciao!!!!