The saga continues

I am not going to get into the details of what each phone call to my service provider has entailed, but it is incredible that each time, the story has been different. What I find shocking is that each person doesn't know the entire story, or doesn't know the product very well. 

I've been like a dog with a bone this time, just because. It's definitely been a test of my patience, and in the past I would get angry, raise my voice (OK -- I'm being very polite when I say that), and I decided that, for this particular issue, I would not. I would remain a calm adult with a very annoying problem. 

I passed that test, and I may just have resolved the issue. 

I had given them until midnight last night to fix this problem, and while it technically isn't done, I now have a technician coming to the house TODAY to fix it. 

Here is what I have learned about dealing with this type of issue with a service provider, and it is not the first time, nor will it be the last, because it doesn't matter who your provider is; the level of service you get for resolving an issue is partly our responsibility as well. It shouldn't have to be that way, but it is reality. 

1. Have your account number and magic pin or whatever it takes to authenticate yourself. If you don't, it can take a very long time for the call center to authenticate you, which just makes the situation bad before you even get started. 
2. LISTEN to what they are saying. They would say one thing, and WAIT a minute -- what exactly does that mean? It was only by listening that I was able to figure out what the heck was going on and how to escalate it or fix it. 
3. WRITE everything down. I did not get the names of everyone I dealt with because what would that prove? But before they transfer you, get the phone number and the name of the department you are being transferred to. If you get disconnected, that is another frustration. 
4. STAY calm. I know this is a challenge, and it sounds ridiculous to say, "I am furious, I am very frustrated" in a quiet voice. It doesn't seem right, but you know what? Getting angry just raises your blood pressure, and that doesn't help anyone. 
5. BE persistent. I've been calling every day now to check on the status. I get someone different, who provides a different angle on the situation. 
6. ESCALATE -- this call had to be escalated, and that only happened because I stayed calm, asked some tough questions, and voiced my frustration. I got this wonderful person (Chloe), who was a pleasure to talk to. She was knowledgeable about the product and what needed to happen. 

She even arranged a call back in two hours (and did so) to see what was happening at home. Of course, I am madly trying to reach someone at our house to check. Anyway -- she thanked me profusely at the end of both calls for being calm and patient. It is a two-way street here. 

Personally, I couldn't care if the TV ever got fixed, but then I wouldn't pay for the service, nor would I have the box in the house. But that's not the point—The World Series is about to start, and DH doesn't have a TV. So I've been trying to get it fixed for him. 

Thankfully, my SIL is staying with us, and while DH is at work today, she can let the technician in. He is bringing the darn remote and EXTRA backup equipment in case he can't get this to work. I've never had issues with the technicians, so please don't let me down!!!!

Remember, how I said that staying in this house I found on Airbnb would save me money? Well, it is, but then Dad turned around and cost me a lot of money! We were having a chat about computers, and if you aren't aware, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of October 14. While that is not an issue, Windows 10 will still work on your computers; the security issue needs to be addressed. They will no longer support security, and you can bet your bottom dollar that hackers will have a field day with that. 

As we sat at the table, I was looking at new computers because Dad's computer is older and likely won't support a physical upgrade to run Windows 11. 

Well, my laptop runs Windows 11, but my home computer doesn't. OH crap -- I probably need a new computer as well. Remember, the hinge that supports the monitor is broken, so I have to prop up the screen since mine is an all-in-one. 

I don't think my old computer will handle a memory upgrade either, and the new operating system might better support the way I work with my many windows open at any given time. Yes-- I am a bad computer user. Well, currently on this computer, I only have FOUR windows open in Google, plus my email and PowerPoint. I'm doing pretty well. 

I looked at new all-in-one computers last night, and well, Best Buy has a good sale on that ends today! I put one in my cart and will likely buy it today and pick it up next week. Sigh --- there goes my savings! But on the bright side, that means I shouldn't buy anything at the quilt show, which I didn't need anyway!!!! See how that all works out!!!

I mentioned recently that my mom has five siblings, including herself, and they are all still alive. So I have managed to make arrangements to meet ALL of them before I leave on Sunday. That was a bit of a feat because I'm also spending a day at the Saskatoon Quilt Show. As someone mentioned, you never know when they won't be here, so it's good to visit. 

The rest of the week is going to be busy!!

I've probably said this before, but it is because of my parents that I find it acceptable and necessary to have multiple projects on the go at any given time. This is the workshop at the museum where my dad "works." Keep in mind, this guy is 92, and while he has some minor mobility issues, he is going strong. 

Dad in "his" workshop

He loves rebuilding engines, and if he can't buy or repair the parts, he learns to make them. It just blows my mind, and he is trying to teach the "younger" generation how to do what he does. The same way that I just seem to know how to put a quilt pattern together, he knows how to rebuild these engines. Some of these engines are over 100 years old. There were some other people there yesterday, working on an old engine that had stumped Dad and his boss. The two people were the boss's dad and unDad. You should have seen the excitement on their faces when puffs of smoke came out of the exhaust. They didn't get it going. But they were close. 

It's a joy to visit the museum to see what the heck they are working on. This is why I am who I am!!! 

Here he is beside one of the engines that they will be working on the minute the snow flies. 

Dad and one of his projects

I have to laugh because this engine was totally seized up. Nothing moved as it had sat outside for 30+ years in the weather. They now have permission to work on it -- a big deal because it's an artifact. I'm not going down that road. 

Anyway, as any intelligent person would do, it seems that Dad and the staff have been adding a bit of oil here and a bit of whatever else there to start loosening up the bolts and whatever else is holding the thing together. Everything is loose now, so when they are allowed to touch it, they can literally pull it apart immediately. 

That's just how we work with quilting. Pull out the components of that project so they are ready to go when we are!!!!

The similarities in the way we work are hilarious! 

I got some answers for him at the bank, and we meet with the accountant today, so hopefully he will be all set for the rest of this year and into income tax time. It is a crazy world out there, and when the way you do things changes, it's not easy for the elderly to comprehend. I'm just trying to help them work their way through that. 

I spend time with Mom as well, and I'm madly trying to finish binding the edge of her hexagon quilt. It's not going to happen on this trip, and I MUST finish it when I'm home, so I don't have to bring it out again unfinished. 

Binding the hexagon quilt

It's going well, but I swear I had two sides done last time I was here —alas, I only had one side and part of the next. For sure, I will finish the second side and hopefully partway down the next. It's a long process, but it actually does go pretty quickly. It's tedious, and I'm not working in the most ideal conditions. 

Then I have to run a line of quilting around the entire perimeter, close to the edge, to hold the batting and keep the edge firm. So on the next virtual retreat, instead of working on my stuff, I need to get this done. 

I had to laugh because people are constantly dropping off artifacts at the museum, and this one was lying on the workshop lunch table. I took one look at it and turned it over, moved the parts, and knew immediately what it was. 

A rug hooker

You can't really tell in those pictures, but there is a needle at the ends of those two pieces. It's like a giant punch needle, but used to make rugs. Yes -- I was right and there is actually an engraved label on the wood. I also did a Google search and confirmed it's for rugs. 

Well, it's time for me to get moving. I need to get breakfast, then head to the accountant. 

Have a super day. 

Ciao!!!

PS -- I just got a call from the technician, and he is on his way to the house NOW. Yikes—thankfully, dear SIL is there. Let's pray that the issue is resolved. As patient as I am, I'm tired of this whole mess. 

A "memorable" journey

Let's say it was NOT memorable from a pleasure point of view. I knew it would be an uncomfortable trip and was not disappointed. 

I'm happy to report that I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I was at the gate at least 60 minutes BEFORE the flight was to leave. Positively loads of time. However, the airport was busy (Monday morning), and more and more people have NEXUS passes, so that line was long, but not nearly as long as the other one. It took time to get through security, but again, I had loads of time. 

When I arrived at the gate, I discovered no plane was there—even the pilots were waiting. We were delayed by 45 minutes as we waited for a plane to be towed to the gate. No worries. I found a place to sit away from the crowds and walked a bit. No checked luggage was required since I'm only here for a few days. 

I get to my seat at the back of the plane to find an older woman in the middle seat. And an older gentleman in the middle seat behind our row. As I sat down, she grumbled that she wanted to sit with her husband and made a big deal of asking him if he was OK and made it seem like he needed help. I said I needed to get up OFTEN and was not giving up my aisle seat. My apologies to the elderly for that call, but it was NOT happening. My needs were more significant than hers. And he was FINE. He even talked to the young man beside him for part of the trip! 

To make matters worse? My entertainment system didn't work! What a farce!! I managed to read some of my book, but I really wanted to sleep, but that wasn't happening. 

What was very strange was that when I changed my seat the night before, the plane was half empty. It was now COMPLETELY FULL. Some flights were delayed the night before, and those people got put on this flight. 

I stayed in my seat for the first hour of the three-hour flight. It wasn't comfortable, but it was manageable. Then, it wasn't pretty, so I tried to stand as much as possible. I'm sure the people around me were annoyed, but I didn't care. I was not bothering them. But do you know how often they go up and down the aisle with those carts? LOTS!!! People were going to the washrooms, so I also had my fair share of sitting. 

Thankfully, there wasn't a lot of turbulence, so the seat belt sign was mostly off. But the one time it was on, and I stood up, this young attendant waved me to my seat! I think they were new!

I got my vehicle for the time I'm here. I went with something different because it was less expensive than an SUV. 

My rental vehicle

Good grief—I have emergency equipment in this vehicle—a big flashing yellow light on the back seat, a big fire extinguisher in the back, a back rack, and a big radio antenna or something. I feel like a seasoned prairie person driving this vehicle. Do I like it? Absolutely not. It's sluggish and enormous. I will never rent one again, but to get me around for a few days, I'm OK. 

It's enormous for parking - who in the city would want to drive one of these? No idea. 

I made a quick stop at Robinson McNally bookstore in Saskatoon. Sadly, like all bookstores, the selection of crafting books and magazines is slowly dwindling, especially in the quilt world. I don't need anything anyway, so let's move on! 

I stopped to see Dad at the Museum because I knew he would be working there. So, I got to see the latest things he's done and what they are all working on. I have to chuckle, as Dad likes to refurbish old engines. Being more than 100 years old, these engines would qualify as antiques. In the day, they were used as generators to power equipment without built-in power. 

Currently, he has five of them in the shop. Doesn't that sound familiar to the quilters amongst us? So I asked him why five. Why not -- it's the same question we ask ourselves all the time. AH -- perhaps he is waiting on a part for one, an answer to a puzzle on another, and so on. Yep - just like the quilters do!! 

Then I went to the apartment to visit Mom while Dad finished at the Museum. 

It's a strange relationship that my brother has developed, and all I can say is basically, my parents are on their own, except he will drive my Dad to appointments and stop in to visit with him at the Museum. But NO ONE other than my younger brother is allowed to set foot on their property. Why? What has happened? He's become one old, eccentric, grumpy man! His loss. But what has happened is that my parents are on their own to care for themselves. I will have to come home every three months or so to ensure things are OK. 

Most elderly people don't want to spend money on things, or Mom says one thing, but it's not true. Well, you know how "old" people are!! So I'll spend two days sorting out many things, hopefully addressing these issues, and then wait to see what surfaces in the next couple of months. It's a struggle to be far away, but we'll do what we can. 

They struggle with how to do things and are reluctant to change. My Dad refuses to shop at Walmart because of the new self-checkouts, so he walks around with massive holes in his socks. Sigh. 

Some letters come, and they need clarification or just need confirmation that they read it correctly. Again, we'll do what we can, and I'll write notes for them to follow up on. I need to call more often and get them to read the stuff to me on the phone. 

I took a photo of the Christmas village at the Museum. Sadly, there is NO quilt shop! 

The Christmas village at the Western Development Museum

The other day, we were talking about the velvet pictures. I saw this in the shop at the Museum! Oh gosh -- those velvet pictures are still around!!!!

A velvet picture!!!

And if you think the weather sucks back home, look at this. This was the outside temperature last night as I arrived at the hotel. A tad chilly, and the weather app said it felt like minus 27 with the wind chill, but I didn't feel the wind. My suitcase had been in the truck for several hours, so I had to warm up my PJs before I put them on! 

The outside temperature last night

As they say, though - it's a DRY cold, so it's really not cold at all! And it's OK. But only in really cold places do you see electrical outlets in parking lots everywhere, so block heaters can be plugged in! 

Imagine making a temperature quilt and using the temperature of where I was! This would be a drastic color change! 

I won't be walking outside here. There is too much snow and ice everywhere, and only the main highways are clear. So, I must see if there's a treadmill at the hotel and get in a few miles. I'm so close to my goals that I would hate to miss them. 

On that note, I'm out of here. I must see if I can buy any kind of pills to relieve nerve pain before I head home. I don't think I can get anything OTC, but I'll hit the drugstore to see. I don't know if I can bear the journey home. The thought of getting off the plane even crossed my mind before we took off. Gosh - I'm such a big wimp!!

Anyway, have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Travel Day

And another uneventful day of travel is behind me. I'll admit that I'm a bit shallow sometimes! Hey -- we're allowed to be that way once in a while. This was an exceptional year of travel for me, and a while back, I wondered if I would make 25K status with Air Canada. That would allow me Zone 2 boarding (always a delight) and two free luggage (up to 50 lbs), which is essential in what I do. That happened a while ago, and well, a couple more flights got booked, and hey -- can I make it to 35K status? That would give me three free luggage - but UP TO 70 lbs, so I wouldn't have to worry about the weight limit. I will NEVER pack 70 lbs and NEVER have three suitcases, but I'm often at 55 lbs. So, the 35K status would solve that issue. 

I was close, so one last trip was booked to get those final points. At least I booked a trip to Saskatchewan, which is relatively inexpensive. DH knows someone who booked a trip to Japan and Argentina (two different trips) so they could maintain their Superelite status! Now that's a bit much! 

It all gets complicated in terms of which status is better, and of course, you can't just buy trips for the sake of getting status - that would be silly. Zone 1 versus Zone 2 boarding? Seriously? Do I need to be the first on the plane? NO. Do I need access to the lounge? There's never enough time to get to the lounge to fully enjoy it, so that would be a waste. Nope -- I'm happy with what I have. I do have upgrade coupons that I can use, so they may come in handy! 

But I timed it yesterday, and from the moment I left the Uber at the door until I was through security, it took 5 minutes! FIVE minutes -- yep -- that's pretty good, and I even checked a piece of luggage. It was the lightest piece of luggage I've ever checked as it was empty. Well, it had my other suitcase inside. I hope to bring a few things home with me. 

The airport was pretty quiet yesterday, but I can make it from the front door through security in good time, even on a crowded day. If you know where you're going and how to do it -- it's all good. 

Yesterday, I made it through Tim's line and to the gate in under 20 minutes. That was a record. Look what I found at Tim's. What's the deal with the chocolate pastries? I hate to say it, but NONE of them taste like those in Spain. Hey -- you have to work for it to appreciate it! 

Chocolate pastries at Tim's

But -- I was leaving at a gate I'd never been to before and never even noticed. We had to go downstairs. OH -- that means we're boarding OUTSIDE. Thankfully, it was a warm day as my coat was in my luggage! But the plane was small, and they didn't even take gate checks of carryon. Thankfully, I only had my backpack. 

This was our plane. A little one! Notice the people entering the plane are as tall as the plane! I feel like Saskatoon is now on the list of secondary flight destinations from Toronto. But the flight was full. 

Boarding the plane

The flight was totally uneventful - just the way I like them. You couldn't fly anywhere a while back without a lot of turbulence, but lately, there's been very little. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? 

I had to wait for the luggage for quite a while, which was very unusual, and then I got my rental vehicle. OK -- so this is the biggest car I've ever rented - I hate it because it's so big, but that's OK - I chose it. But is it a car? No - Is it a truck? Not really. It's an SUV, and we've had many discussions at Monday sewing about trucks versus SUVs versus cars. My bet is that the large SUVs are built on a truck body, and the small ones are built on a car body. Call it what you want -- it works. NO mention of snow tires here. 

My rental vehicle

Then, I was off to my favorite bookstore of all time. Robinson McNally. It was packed yesterday, and this was the puzzle section. I did NOT buy a puzzle or even look at them. 

STEP AWAY from the puzzles

I wanted lunch as I had yet to eat, and the restaurant in the bookstore was packed, so I had to wait for a table. But I got a buzzer so I could browse. I looked at the quilts - a couple of interesting ones. The Saskatoon Quilters Guild hangs quilts in the bookstore, rotating every 3 or 4 months. Most are for sale, but some are not. 

A quilt hanging in the bookstore

I checked out the craft books and spotted this! Yep -- you could make a quilt, and you could also crochet the same pattern. Interesting concept!

To quilt or crochet?

I spotted one about curves that was very intriguing, and I noted it. It could make an interesting class. Perhaps an in-person class. I bought a small book and a couple of magazines. I know -- I do NOT need them, and I thought long and hard and then walked to the cash. So help me, god, M will be ditching a lot of magazines. But if I have my way, I'll be reading them. And I am! Just very slowly. 

I bought this one the other day and threw it in my bag for the flight. I read it cover to cover. It was an excellent read and brings about lots of questions. In the textile program at Sheridan College, there was much discussion about art and craft. Which is which, and how do they differ? 

A great read on the concept of art and craft

I earmarked many pages to share with you, but if you can download the magazine. It talks about art versus craft but then gives a high overview of several crafts, including clay, quilting, quilling, block printing, etc. I found it fascinating, but I am NOT just a quilter, and I'm curious! 

But it also made me realize that I need to find new outlets for 2024. I don't mean add new stuff to my plate - well, yes and no. I need to add new stuff that I want to do personally! Not share on a Zoom session with others. But something that I want to experiment with and play with  - just for me. I know I'm going to suck at it at the beginning, and it's going to look like cut and paste from a kindergarten, but that's the only way I'm going to get to the level I want. And that was one of the magazines I bought yesterday. And if you must know the subject - it's art journaling! I've wanted to go down that path for a long time and needed more time (focus). So, I will try to make that a personal focus next year. 

And if you live close to me and want a hands-on experience, we have a workshop retreat for making a journal, which you can then fill with whatever you want! That's January 9 - 11, and I can't wait!!! There is room for one or two more people, so let me know. 

I will share a lot of bits from The Art of Craft, as there was fascinating stuff in it!!!

OH -- and here is the UFO homework that I completed for Sunday. While they look the same, they are two different quilts. I made good progress this past month, and I have a plan for the next couple of months to complete both. Then I get to choose another UFO to work on!! I can't wait!!!!

Cabin in the Woods -- Number One

Cabin in the Woods - Number Two

OH - -then I stopped at the Museum where my Dad "works." The guy is 90 and treats it as his work, and why not! If that keeps him alive, he can call it whatever the heck he wants to! He's so well-liked and APPRECIATED by the staff and other volunteers. It is a pleasure to stop by and see all the stuff he is building for himself and the Museum. He works on old engines for the Museum, and if he can't find the part, he BUILDS it. Yep --- a man without even a high school education can build pretty much anything!! Out of metal! That's a CRAFT, and it just goes to show that university and education are NOT for everyone! 

As I entered the front door, I spotted their Christma Village display. That's a huge display!!! I checked closely and did not see a quilt shop!

The Christmas Village display

I did something I rarely do, and that was to book a room before I arrived. The rooms are sometimes filled with travelers or business workers, but line workers, electricians, highway crews, etc., need rooms, so I had tried to book the night before online, and that didn't work. So I called - oh yes -- they had room. I checked in late afternoon but did not go to the room. 

When I finally got to the room, it was COLD! The heat wasn't on, which made me laugh because four of us booked two rooms on a road trip years ago. We did the same thing - we checked in and went for dinner. The heat wasn't on in the rooms, and when we arrived ready to go to bed, the rooms were FREEZING. We all went to bed fully dressed, and it wasn't until almost the morning that the room finally warmed up! 

This room wasn't quite that bad, but it was cold! 

Well, I've got some visiting to do today, and I need to get breakfast, so I best get the day started. I have to find time to walk, but not walking this morning. It's still dark, and the roads are not the best for walking in the dark. I don't want someone to whack me! 

And start thinking about that room you want to tackle come January. Elle posted a comment about which room you should pick. I don't care which room you pick, but it would be great if you followed along with me. We cannot yell at other people for their junk when we have junk ourselves. And we CANNOT leave it for our children or someone else to deal with. We just cannot! We are more responsible than that. So pick a room - a closet, a box. Think how much better you'll feel when that is cleared, and the next box will be easier to deal with!! We will have some TOUGH decisions ahead, but we'll all feel better because of it! 

I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel since I started down this path of decluttering. It's easier to move around my house. It's way easier to find things (most of the time), and it's like a weight lifts off my shoulders as the junk goes out the door. Some things will be sad to get rid of, and I've kept a few of those things. But they will go --- remember -- this stuff is ONLY valuable while we are alive. When we are gone, it's junk. So if it's valuable to us and we're not using it? Is it really valuable? NO! It's junk! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Now I'm confused

OK - so I took a day off the other day. I shouldn't have. I don't have time to take a day off, but I did. I wanted to visit the Textile Museum to see the Color Improvisations 2 exhibit. The exhibit has been at the museum since the end of May, but as usual, I wait until the last minute since the show closes on Sunday. 

I decided to save myself some money and coordinated it so I could get a ride to and from downtown with DH. It was like a daytime date! He had some meetings and wasn't going to be gone all day so I tagged along. 

The museum didn't open until 11 so I got a bit of time to wander around. Yikes - there are TONS of people downtown. I used to work downtown Montreal but that was years ago. I'm not sure I could handle the hustle and bustle anymore!

I managed to snap a photo of the TORONTO sign. Gosh - I think that is the first time I see that sign in person, although I was around the corner from the sign when we started our bike trip last month. 

The TORONTO sign

I'm fascinated by the tall buildings. And these aren't even the tallest ones. While I think it would be very cool to live downtown, work downtown and play downtown - it just isn't my thing. But it could be a cool lifestyle. I was informed that when we retire, we're going to buy a condo at the St. Regis. A studio apartment with 642 sq ft is up for grabs for $650K. I think I'll pass. 

Downtown Toronto

Anyway - back to the exhibit? How many of you went to this show? Did you like it? 

The title of the exhibit is Color Improvisations 2 - An international exhibition of contemporary quilts. The show was curated by Nancy Crow. Nancy has been around for many years as an artist - should we say a quilt artist? or that her medium is quilting? I just had a quick peek at her website. She teaches workshops at her studio. The deposit is listed at $250 for a five-day workshop. I wonder what the price is? I couldn't find it. But the studio space looks amazing!

Anyway, she's done lots of stuff in the art quilt world. She's taught many students around the world and the quilts in this exhibition were made specifically for this exhibit. All of them were the same size which is LARGE. Some had touches of handwork in them, many were done by machine, many had facings instead of bindings (actually now that I think of it, most of them had facings - maybe all of them).

I thoroughly enjoyed the show and loved the solids (or hand-dyed) fabrics in the quilts. Lots of beautiful quilting on most, others not so much. But that's OK. 

There is a catalog of the show but it was sold out so I put my name on the list. 

The show catalog (well - it's a book!)

The book is nicely done (not cheap - $45 which I guess isn't that bad) and shows all the quilts in the exhibit as well as others and a nice bio of the artists. None whose name I recognized. Remember - these are ARTISTS, not quilters. So I think if I had to peg Nancy - she is NOT a quilter. She's an artist. OK - so she's an art quilter!

So here's the confusion and we have this discussion each time we meet for the West End Modern Quilt Guild. What is the difference between MODERN and CONTEMPORARY quilts? Yes - can anyone answer that question?  Because there were many quilts in this display that I would peg as modern and there are many quilts in our guild or at Quiltcon that are contemporary. 

So I googled it. WHOA!!!!   Now I'm totally confused. Did you know that MODERN in the art world essentially is more related to a period when Modern art was created starting in 1860!!!!  Here's a link, but I think this topic needs a whole blog post on its own. Interesting..............

I did check out the second show at the Textile Museum which is called Crosscurrents: Canada in the making. This show had a variety of quilts and other beautiful handcrafted textiles from beading to embroidery and quillwork (made with porcupine quills). It was an interesting show as well. 

There was a beautiful embroidery quilt that was obviously a fundraiser. You can catch a snippet of the quilt at the main page of the Textile Museum.  

Actually, there are sales coming up. I know in the past that I've found some amazing stuff at these "garage sales". Essentially people donate stuff to the museum and they turn around and sell it to raise funds. I'm sure those volunteers always get first pick at what comes in! A good reason to become a volunteer!!!  

But they have classes and lectures as well. There is an interesting lecture coming up next week. In my next life, I would love to delve more into the history of quilts and this would be interesting to attend. But I don't think I'm going to have the time and getting downtown for 6 PM would not be fun. I could take the train. It's just that this week, I've been out EVERY EVENING except one and next week is almost as bad. I think I'll stay home on Wednesday. 

There was a quote on the wall which I thought was most interesting. "Who is worthy of memory?" by Desmond Miller (he's the one doing the lecture). It's very thought-provoking. Which is why we want to label our quilts and leave something behind so that people will remember who we are. 

Let's not forget the gift shop. I always make time to browse through the items for sale and the books. They have used books for sale and that's what I ended up with - ONE used book for $8. See what they wrapped the book in? Old pattern tissue! I love that. 

Pattern tissue used to protect my book

And if someone buys a postcard or a card, they will use old pattern envelopes as the packaging. I love that!. I know - technically I did not need a bag (or I should have taken my own). I felt bad about that.

All in all, I'm glad that I took the time to visit the show. It helps to solidify my stance on what is a contemporary quilt and what is a modern quilt. I'll be sharing that at some point with you all.

Speaking of museums, I thought I'd share this with you as well. Mark Dunn is the owner of Moda and what I like about him is that he is interested in what he sells. He may not be a quilter, but he has an extensive quilt collection. There's a show currently at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum at the University of Nebraska. Hmm - I wonder if DH has business in Lincoln???  Anyway, check out this story about his show.

I had some time to kill before meeting up with DH (we even had lunch together downtown!) so I took a walk around City Hall. WHOA!! Did you know that the gardens around the City Hall look like a wild field???  Right in the middle of the city. I've never been up on that elevated part. That was a shocker, but it looks great. It's a shame that people don't feel comfortable with that look. Like my neighbors who are still watering their grass at 5 AM in the morning. It would appear that MOST of the people on my street are watering their grass. What a total waste of resources. We need to STOP that and the lawns of those that water and those that don't? They look the same! People - the grass is very hardy! But I digress. Here's the picture.

Wild garden at City Hall

It's amazing what you discover when you start looking around.

Then I decided to start wandering back to our meeting place and I spotted this lady wearing the coolest dress ever. I got a picture of it. That's a great inspiration for something. Not sure what yet, but great inspiration. See - there is inspiration EVERYWHERE.

Great inspiration in that dress

Too bad - I missed an opportunity to experience virtual reality. The National Film Board had a 7-minute video that you could watch through the virtual reality glasses. It's right in Nathan Phillps Square. If I had my wits about me, I could have booked a viewing right when I arrived and would have had time to view the film before I left. But I didn't so I didn't get to see the movie. DRAT.  But it'll be shown at some upcoming festival. It looked very interesting. Toronto in the future and it was flooded!!!  Oh - I found the link to the exhibit.  Watch the video clip - it's pretty cool.  I wish I'd been smarter with my time so I could have watched the film.

I have to make mention of where I was last night. I was the speaker at the Kempenfelt Quilter's Guild in Barrie. What a great group of quilters!!  And what a surprise for me - I ran into some people that I haven't seen in a long time. It was so great to touch base again with them. A HUGE thanks to Brenda and Liz who took me out for a DELICIOUS dinner at Casa Mia. We had a great chat about quilting and what they've been up to. Thanks again ladies - it was loads of fun! 

The trunk show last night was GROUP quilts. So much fun and so many stories and so many memories. I'll be speaking next week at the Barrie Modern Quilt Guild. Only one or possibly two quilts will be the same as last night. If you're in the area - stop by. It's on Thursday, September 27 in the evening. The topic is MODERN quilts and I'd need to do a wee bit more research on that contemporary versus modern situation.

I should mention that I have my finish number 55 for the year. It's done and I have to pack it up and get it to the courier today. Sorry - you can't see it - not yet. There are a few more that are an hour or so away from being finished but I don't think that's going to happen this weekend. It's a totally insane weekend. I have TWO classes today, THREE tomorrow and a sit n sew on Sunday. Maybe during Sit n Sew, I'd better finish something. I know Diane is ahead of me and I can't let that happen.

On that note, I've got some prep work to do this morning and some writing.

Have a super day!!!!!

Ciao!!

A night at the MUSEUM!!!

OK - so it wasn't a night, but M and I spent Thursday afternoon at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and OH MY GOODNESS - we did have a LOT of fun.

I guess we are making it a tradition that we go once a year! (I think if you check around the 4th of January 2012 - that is when we went last year). We are NOT museum people, but we do like to go - we just can't go often and can't stay for long. But we did a have a good tour around and poked our noses into all (well most) corners of the museum.

M is working on a major project for school - a 16-page magazine (for fashion class). She needed to get some fashion pictures and the ROM always has a fashion/textile display. We bundled into the car and headed downtown. She did NOT have her camera with her BUT Mom to the rescue and so I was cameraless, but she did a great job taking pictures. Sit back and have a look.............

Entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Up to the FOURTH floor which is where the fashion/textile exhibits are always  held. This show was called BIG - textiles/fashion that made BIG statements, BIG impact, BIG (well - there were eight BIGS and look - I can't remember them!!!!)  We did take a picture of the BIGS, but well - I have so many pictures - hard to put them all in. 

This was the first dress we saw. They had a video running to show how the dress was made and can you guess how many meters of fabric was used in making this dress????   Guess????   166.5 meters and that is NOT a typo. The tulle was layered - in some cases - FOUR layers. There is TONS of hand stitching/detail on this dress and when they showed the embroidery loom - HEY - I have one of those. A class mate made it for me when I was a Sheridan!!!!   I really need to use it. 

The video also displayed the dress on the runway and these were the shoes that went with the dress. M sees fashion - I see an accident waiting to happen!!!!  I won't show you the back of the dress - you will have to do and see for yourself!!!!

Lots of examples of various types of fabrics (this one is woven). When you see some of the examples and knowing that these were hand woven, you just wonder how they came up with the loom to do the weaving and then how long would it take them to stitch this. I believe one of the textiles we saw, it took TWO people one day to do about 5-6 cm and they were making wall coverings for some royalty. Yikes - maybe they were slow so they would always have a job????  But the print was very delicate and complex!!!

Then you have printed fabric from Africa. This looked much less time consuming, but still intricate. 

Now THIS is the ideal fabric for quilters. And why is that????   Well first - do you know what it is made of?????   Fibreglass Read the card below and see the properties of the Fibreflass fabric. Sounds like a quilters dream!!!!

Can you read it????? NO IRONING!!!!!!!!!   Oh look  - there are some more BIGS on this card. 

They had a  number of quilts on display (I think these were the same ones that were on display when we went last year). They MUST change them up - I can't imagine the quilts being on display all year long. I won't show you the rest of the quilt display - you will have to go and see it for yourself!!!!!

I do have to say that M did a great job taking pictures. The lighting in this hall is VERY DIM because of the textiles and bright light will damage the fibres. No flash - yes - we had a lot of blurred pictures, but that is what the DELETE button is for!!!!!

This was one of my FAVOURITE garments on display. It is made completely from ZIPPERS!!!!!   How cool is that. I just wonder if you get mixed up with the zipper that opens it OR does it matter which zipper you use to get out of the garment??????   I could make this!!!!!!!!!!!

A small piece of textile - not sure where this came from and shoot - I should have got the year it was made. But look close - look at those designs!!!!   They look like quilting designs, but NOPE - the lines are made with teeny tiny embroidery stitches. But you can get inspiration for quilting designs from everywhere!!!!

At one point, I had to go to the wash room (too much drinking on the way down - non-nonalcoholic of course). WELL - there is NO washroom on the fourth floor - shows you the status of the textile section!!!!!   I had to wander through the museum to find a washroom on the third floor and so I found our next destination!!!!  Back up to M who was having a ball checking out all the designers and their fashions. But time to move on.......................

I LOVE this staircase in the new section of the museum.   It is called the Staircase of Wonders!!!!  

Look at ME - yes - we were having a fun day!!!!!!

I love the displays in this staircase. This is the miniatures - they are so cute!!!!!   There are many other displays - but you will have to go and see them yourself!!!!

Cool close up of the pipers!!!!   (This is for you Margo!!!)

Then we were off to our next exhibit. The one that I stumbled upon when looking for the washroom.

This display was from Ghana. We saw this cool textile that is all embroidered. I have no idea what they are saying or doing. 

 But the real reason we came to this section was for this.................

Do you know what it is?????   Why is it a car of course, but not just ANY car -

Can you read the caption on the display case????   It is a COFFIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reason we were so fascinated by the car coffin (there was also a fish coffin on display) was that BERKE is OBSESSED by cars and we thought this would be appropriate for him when the time comes!!!!!!!!!!

And this car was not JUST a car, but it was a Mercedes-Benz

Why the Mercedes Benz coffin car is so popular - hopefully you can click on the picture to read that

The front "seat" of the car coffin (that is just too creepy)

And the upholstery in the back sea - Louis Vuitton no less!!!!!

Now you are asking - how obsesses is Berke about cars?????   Oh yes - he is obsessed. We have taken to sending him pictures of parts of a car to see if he can identify them. On the way home from the museum, we sent him a picture of the GAS CAP (so part of the contour of the car was in the picture). It was some fancy Hyandai and seconds later - he came back with the name, the model and more information about the car than we ever wanted to know. I DO NOT know how he knows all this, but ONE OF THESE days we are going to stump him. I don't know what car it will be, but we will stump him. I think we need to do ordinary cars, not the fancy ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we were off to view other parts of the museum.

This is one of my FAVOURITE pieces in the museum. This comes from Africa and it made from the tops that seal bottles of booze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We watched some of the video this time since we didn't spend as much time exploring the piece which is HUGE. What makes it so cool is that the artwork is like a textile, but made with metal. Anyway - the artist (he has made a lot of these as we found a book in the museum gift shop on his work). Come to think of it - that means a LOT of booze, but he goes to the distillery and he gets his materials from them - returned bottles. But he was trying to find a medium that was readily available and cheap so that he could go BIG. Well - he did. I just love these pieces. I bought a poster of another piece, but the book would be awesome to have!!!!!    What do we have easy access to that one could make something big??????  He made a comment (which I wish I could remember) about if one has materials readily at hand that you will make what you want and not be restricted. Something like that!!!  I guess that is why we have stashes!!!!

Can't go to the ROM without looking at the dinosaurs.  This is a baby!!!!

AH - a picture of M (a self portrait). I believe we are in the Art-Deco section or was this the collecting section?????

How would you like to DUST this Victorian room??????

A display of SILVER miniatures which apparently were one of the items that the idle rich ladies collected!!!!   They had quite a collection - we LOVED the miniatures. And if memory serves me correct - these were made in the Netherlands. 

And what does one do when you are tired, hot and your feet are killing you (we NEVER seem to wear comfy shoes when we go - maybe that is why we only last a couple of hours!!!!!!)

 

Well you have a nap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I told you - we had fun!!!!!!

I do LOVE those days when you and your teen can go out and forget about the issues at home - just have fun. Just enjoy the day. Those are the best and hopefully those outweigh the bad days!!!!!  

One of the costumes on display from some of Toronto's carnivals!!  

Pictures from Toronto's carnivals. Now that looks like a LOT of fun

The floor of the old entrance. Hmmmm - not as dramatic or inspiring as others I have seen. 

But look at those quilt blocks. This is just above the floor in the previous picture!!!!!

Wow - what a FUN FUN FUN day. Oh yes - I forgot - then despite our tired feet, we browsed the gift shop and picked up a couple of goodies. That child of mine is very CLEVER. If it fashion/textile related - then she thinks she can wheedle me into buying it for her. OK - so I bought a couple of books - you can NEVER go wrong buying books.

Thanks M for the great day!!!!!!   I hope you got all the pictures you need to finish your magazine. I can't wait to see it!!!!  


I have been making progress (although it seems like slow progress) on sewing projects and tidying up, and I know I keep saying - just one more day and I will be done, but one more day comes and goes and I'm still not done and I am NOWHERE near touching either the 2013 shelf or the $10 quilt shelf. OK - so I have NOTHING to do today - I am going to work hard and see how much progress I can make.



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11