Learning to be creative!

It was a positively boring day yesterday! The third-level Microsoft support called, and she took about 5 minutes to poke around my Outlook setup, then decided it needed to be escalated to a higher level! Yikes!!! But Microsoft and Google don't seem to like talking to each other, and there's an issue with syncing. Now I understand why it takes so long for my email to sync - that's always been an issue, but I never thought much about it. If Microsoft is willing to spend time on it, I'm happy to oblige! I have another call window this afternoon - maybe the problem will be resolved? BTW, I believe Microsoft will support the Classic version until 2029.

In the meantime, it was so nice to send emails to my groups, and I switched between Outlook versions as needed. There is a lag in the syncing, so hopefully I got everyone's pictures. 

The knee is progressing nicely, but I'm still not pushing it. Pushing it for me is different from pushing it for others - I get that. I did almost 9 KM yesterday. And my knee felt much better during and after the walk. I'm still applying heat, but no meds are required.  

The engineers got back to me and said they will look into the beam issue, but not the roof issue. There is no attic, so no place to investigate. Hmmm—have they ever considered that the drywall has to come off to be repaired, so they will have a wide-open space to investigate? Maybe I need to say the drywall is gone! I'm going to contact another company, and then we'll see. The ice is mostly gone from the roof, and everything has settled down. 

Like I said -- positively boring and I'm OK with that! 

I spent the entire day running around, taking and editing pictures, and putting together today's presentations. The two of them are ready, and after this morning's classes, I'll spend the afternoon prepping the UFO presentation for tomorrow. That one should be easier, as I just have to get the pictures from email and a few pictures of my stuff. 

OH -- as I was doing my research, guess what I found? Yep -- a printout of the distribution list for the jacket class!! I guess I'm not as silly as I thought I was. I had a physical copy of my two big lists. 

My jacket class distribution list

I did a lot of research yesterday, both online and in my resource library. 

Doing research

It also necessitated getting out the User's Guide for my sewing machine. GASP!!!! Yep --- that is one of the most valuable tools you can own. It's a shame more people don't use it!

The User's Guide

I can share what I was looking for another day. But I felt like a detective as I tried to figure out what I was doing wrong! 

Well, as I was digging through that stack of Threads magazines, I glanced over to see Miss Murphy sleeping on her mat under the current project tables. It's like a little den for her, surrounded by tubs on two sides. I decided that we needed some quiet time together. I got on the floor, and we had a good cuddle. 

MOM - I LOVE when you cuddle in my space!

You know something? I'm glad I'm still able to do that. Because of all the stretching, getting back up isn't a big deal anymore. YES -- instead of letting my body continue to regress, I'm fighting back to keep myself limber. It took a wakeup call, but I listened. Should I be blessed with grandchildren one day, you bet I'll be on the floor to cuddle and play with them! 

At least that's what the quote in my tea told me to do - listen!!!!

Listen!!!!!

Getting up may not be as graceful as a ballet dancer (I've said that before), but at least I can do it, and it doesn't feel awkward! Even with a bum knee, so yes - the knee is much better. 

But while I was browsing one of the early Threads magazines, I spotted this article on COMPUTERIZED sewing machines!!! 

Hmmm -- how to buy a computerized sewing machine

There was a comparison chart of the various brands. The prices were under $2,000, although at the time, that was probably a lot of money for a sewing machine. 

Comparison chart of sewing machines

Here's a close-up of some of the top-of-the-line models. These are NOT embroidery machines; they are simply sewing machines. 

The Viking 990

There was no Husqvarna at that time. 

PFAFF Creative 1471

HMM -- at some point, Pfaff became all caps, and Creative lost its capital C. 

Bernina 1130

Brother Compal Galaxie

New Home Memory Craft 6000

This later became Janome. 

Shoot, before I put it back, I should have looked at the features, but I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't want to stop. 

Here's the cover of the Threads issue, so you can tell it's a bit dated. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what year this was? 

One of the early issues of Threads

There it is -- August/September 1987!!!! And look at the price—$3.75. This is an amazing magazine, and I think I have every issue. Don't ask! I noticed that when I looked for three particular issues, they were NOT in any order. They were, but then they got moved. So it really is time to organize that resource library. 

Aug/Sept 1987 issue

Speaking of the library, I got two recommendations for Libib to store books, but I already have a paid subscription to one online, so I might try that one first. I can scan the books - I just need to figure out how to set up a second database. The first database contains the books I have read. I refer to that VERY FREQUENTLY, so I might as well use it for the quilt books since I'm already paying for it! 

As part of my preparation, I had to find two items I needed to photograph. One of the items I had been looking for a couple of weeks ago, but didn't find it. Well, that's because I didn't look hard enough. Both items were on the pegboard. There are loads of things on this pegboard that probably don't need to be there. But all my specialty rulers and odd notions are stored there. It works for me. 

The messy pegboard

And what about the girls? They have become extremely vocal these days. When I go for a walk with one, the other one protests while I'm gone. Last night, Murphy would NOT leave her ball alone, and when I took it away, she made a loud protest. The only way I can get peace and quiet when reading is to go upstairs, which I don't want to do! Eventually, they settled, but not until they had a play fight to entertain me!

MOM - we NEED YOU NOW!!!

Oops—I forgot to get a picture of that painting. I'll try to remember today. But I'll chat about the two books I'm reading. The audiobook is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I think I have taken this book out of the library a dozen times and never got around to reading it. I figured I'd "force" myself to read it by listening to the audiobook. While it has a lot of good information, I don't think the book is for me. 

The premise of the book is to help people become creative. Help artists who are blocked to get back to painting, writing, creating, making movies, or whatever. It also encourages people who are NOT doing what they would love to do, to take that giant step and do it! Lucky for me, I took that step back in 1998 and haven't looked back. 

She has a ton of lists, and some of the items on them I feel are just fillers, so she can get to 20 on each. But hey—if one of the items piques someone's interest, it needs to be on the list. Now I almost need to see the physical book to review those lists! But I digress. 

I got a chuckle because the first thing she talks about in the book is the Morning Pages. To help open the floodgates, she recommends that you get up each day and write three pages longhand. It can be whatever you want --- and if you can't think of anything to write, then you simply write, "I don't know what to write" or something to that effect. 

These pages are just for you -- you don't need to read them or share them with anyone; you just need to write! 

On that note, I couldn't agree more! And I'm going to equate my blog with Julia's morning pages. I get up and just write. I don't think of a topic - it just comes to me. Can you believe I've been writing the blog for almost twenty years? At first, it was sporadic, and then it became a daily thing. 

I chose to use the computer because I can't stand handwriting with a pen. My hand just cramps, and the writing isn't pretty. I much prefer a keyboard. I put it online because a then-friend encouraged me. But it's the process of writing that is important. Why? Because I said I was going to do things and wrote it down, I now have to follow up. Because I struggle with issues and I write about them, it becomes less of a struggle. Because I share my successes, I feel more successful, etc. 

So while you may feel motivated, inspired, mad, or happy when you read the blog, it's really a brain dump of my thoughts, which helps me clear my head and move on for the day! I'm going to call my blog my morning pages, and I will continue doing so for as long as I can. I'm also a storyteller, in case you haven't figured that out, and as long as I can continue to tell stories about the day, well, I'll be writing. 

I'm sure DH is thankful for the blog because he already has to listen to many ridiculous, nonsensical, and meaningless stories from me. Imagine if he had to hear them all? It keeps me young and brings lots of laughs to our house! 

But reading that book alone would NOT make you creative. There are loads of exercises that Julia recommends you do. Writing my blog can take up to 1½ hours each day, and I actually look forward to the process. So if you want to become more creative, do the things you have always wanted to do, but were afraid to, take a look at the book. But it will take WORK and COURAGE to get there. 

Speaking of stories, I didn't tell you this one. Because of my knee, I am taking a slightly different route with the dogs. I don't want to slog through the forest with a dog on a leash, even sweet Lexi. That requires me to cross a busy street during school drop-off time. As I was crossing the street to return home, a car started turning left towards me. He was in a rush to get ahead of the car that had stopped to his right. 

Turns out that was an Uber driver, and DH was on his way to the dentist in that car. He had to shout at the driver to not hit me! Can you imagine the headlines for that one? 

So many drivers just care about the cars and not the people. The sad thing is, this happened very near an elementary school shortly after drop-off, when there would still be lots of people around. Sigh.......

I'll have to tell you about the other book I'm reading tomorrow. I've got to get moving!

Here are the links to the Virtual Retreat this weekend. 

Saturday, February 21 --- starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610782501?pwd=7dCrhiL5t8Xa4TVwZPvhL6cOymbcjK.1

Meeting ID: 896 1078 2501
Passcode: 148311

Sunday, February 22 ---- starts at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89869001291?pwd=h57kT9axwTnd2xtJvuO0z2UOmUo45w.1

Meeting ID: 898 6900 1291
Passcode: 136711

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Hello? Hello?

 I love it (NOT!) when the connection isn't good on a call -- "Can you hear me? Can you hear me now?" Well, that has happened mostly on Zoom calls. Now, however, it's happening on my cell phone. In the last several days, whenever I'm on a call IN THE HOUSE, I cut out, and I go outside to take the call. Not always practical. What is causing this issue? No idea, and it's going to be something challenging to diagnose. 

I would love to walk into the cell phone store and tell them my problem, and they just hand me a new phone. But the reality is they will likely give me a loaner. I'll check it out and see -- I may have bought a protection plan that will allow them to immediately provide me with a new phone. Once I download my pictures, I shall walk over to the mall to check it out, as it's pretty annoying. 

So you know the struggle I've gone through to get that sewing room of mine in order. It's taken years to make it happen. Little by little, I whittled away at the mess. While there is still LOTS of stuff in that room, it's organized for the most part. The cutting table has always been an issue, and I remember when I had two cutting tables back to back, and BOTH of them were jammed with stuff. I literally had a 12" square on the corner of one of the tables to cut. I wish I had a photo of that mess. 

I've made progress in leaps and bounds, and I'm happy to report that this is the condition of my cutting table after several days of work. 

The cutting table!

There are a few odds and ends at the far end, some of which need to be trimmed, and there is one project box for the project that I'm currently working on and my lists. This is amazing, and it's a thrill to work in that space. Things aren't falling on the floor, and the mats are available when I need the space to cut. Although I need to switch the mats around and use the new one on the right instead of the left, which is pretty much toast. 

I even find myself going around the sewing machine stations and cleaning up the threads, and putting the tools no longer needed away. How often do I do that? EVERY DAY! I'm obsessed with keeping the space neat and tidy, making me feel happy. And I'm in full-blown sewing mode right now, with several deadlines this weekend. I've no idea how I survived all those years in a mess. So life is good in the sewing room. There are a few more areas to tidy up -- well, really just that current projects table, and I'm whittling my way through that. 

As I've mentioned, my calendar is also clearing up, and I love looking at those days and weeks with NOTHING. I still have loads to do, but the deadlines will be gone. Self-discipline will come into play, and I will need to motivate myself since there is no deadline to get these projects done!

Every Monday during our sewing day, we have a show and tell. And I start it off with a crazy sewing machine. This past Monday, it was this machine that I thought was cute. 

A Jaguar sewing machine

Then I had a closer look at the photo and saw the words "Game Boy" on the sewing machine. What the heck is that all about? Jaguar is a Japanese company that makes (made) sewing machines. They made it with their brand on it, as well as for other companies, including Singer!

The Singer version of the Game Boy sewing machine

You connected your Game Boy Color to the sewing machine with a cord. Then, with the Game Boy cartridge, you had access to various sewing machine stitches. I guess they thought it was faster to incorporate the brain of the Game Boy into the machine rather than put the brain in the sewing machine. From what I can tell, this was about 1990. 

Then they advanced to a model with a dedicated spot to put the Game Boy. Doesn't this remind you of stitch and embroidery cards? At least that's how Husqvarna Viking did it! 

An early embroidery machine using a Game Boy to control it

Apparently, the embroidery designs were Nintendo -- Mario, etc. Of course, they were!!! How cool would it be to have one of those? Anyway, here's a story about it if you want to check it out. 

I would never have learned that if I didn't go looking. It's amazing what you can find on the internet. 

Remember when Lexi's leash broke? Well, the metal hook that attaches to her collar fell apart. I found a replacement online (NOT at that store!). It was a small store in Eastern Canada. The shipping was $20, and I thought that was a lot for the three hooks that I wanted. So I contacted them, and I got an immediate response. The $20 included tracking during the shipping. They offered me two other much cheaper options. 

I chose the cheapest $5.00, including the package to ship it in. I must say that I had a bit of an anxiety moment. What if the store didn't ship it or the package went astray, and I'd have no proof that it was even in the mail with no tracking. Oh -- believe in the system and believe in people! So I did! 

This week, the package arrived. 

My package arrived

The hooks were well packaged. 

Well packaged inside

And here are my three hooks. Now I can take them off to the shoemaker so he can repair the two leashes. 

I do NOT care that this cost me perhaps a bit more than buying a new leash. I'm looking at $30 to replace the leash, so it's probably cheaper to have it repaired because I'm getting TWO leashes repaired. 

I sent them a note thanking them for the fantastic customer service. The company is called Leathersmith Designs in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

I have finished reading the book about the monolithic online store. It just blows my mind, and again if only 50% of the book is accurate, we are in for a HUGE awakening one day when they have bought or crushed all the small competition, and we have only one place to shop. I know that's a bit dramatic, but given what they've accomplished in a short time -- don't be surprised. 

And interestingly enough, the author of the book said it doesn't make sense to boycott that online store. Nope -- just support the small local stores, where the MONEY stays in our local communities. I'm trying very hard to follow that philosophy and always have. Support local! It's incredible how much power they have -- over the consumers today and the government. And it's not just because you buy from them - it's the DATA they are collecting on you, your buying habits, visitors to your house if you have one of those doorbell cameras (or even when you come and go), and what you say in your house with your smart speakers (I know -- ACK!). They now have the power to CHANGE how you buy, what you buy, what you see on the internet, EVERYTHING. BUT only if you let them!

The author says they are no longer a product company with physical products, but you, the consumer, are now their product because they can manipulate you because of the data they collect and change your habits! And we've already seen signs of that. There are other ways of avoiding them, but it is becoming more complex as their reach expands, and I'll share some of those ways another day. 

The weather here is quite wet. Look at what I spotted on the deck yesterday. Murphy must have been out there, and it started to rain, so she came in. 

Murphy didn't like the rain

And, of course, we played ball while I was on a call, and then she deliberately dropped it under the deck. That is one intelligent dog. It's not enough that I threw it, but no -- I have to retrieve it as well from challenging spots. Oh, Murphy!!!

Other stuff happened yesterday, but I've run out of time. As a matter of fact, I'm now late because I rambled on!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

The scraps are going, the scraps are going...................

Yesterday was a crazy day. I'm not sure what gets into me sometimes, but I get on a roll and well - watch out!!!!! Let's just say the light at the end of the tunnel is going to be blinding soon. 

I had two one-hour webinars that I wanted to listen to. I didn't have to participate in any way, although I did ask questions in one. But that's two hours of valuable time so how can I get something done at the same time. I did a wee bit of sewing and I'm happy to report that the homework for Aviatrix Medallion is DONE and I love it! I do have to prep the presentation for tonight, but that shouldn't take long. All the pictures are done and just need to be loaded.

I looked at those boxes and bags of scraps and decided that I could sort through some of that. I knew that some of the boxes contained fabric yardage. There is a lesson to be learned here. When you're asking for a donation of something, you MUST be extremely clear on what you want. I thought I was clear, but obviously not clear enough.

I got t-shirt scraps from when someone cut up T-shirts for a quilt, yardages of velvet, tulle, polyester, cotton, and gosh knows what else. I went through box after box and sorted through it all. NONE of it was the small cuttings that are small and easy to stuff a pet mat with. I very neatly piled all that stuff back into the boxes and bags.

I have a connection who wants this kind of stuff so guess what? I have a delivery to make. This is what is going out of the house as soon as I can arrange a drop-off.

Bags and boxes of fabric to be donated

Did I keep anything from the boxes? NOTHING. I kept nothing. I already have so much to deal with that I didn't want to spend my time chopping up stuff that someone else could use. And I assume my contact has sources that they can pass some of this stuff along if they don't want it.

It makes me a wee bit mad when I see that people used my plea for scraps as a dumping ground to get rid of their stuff. Doesn't matter - let's move on. But that's a very valuable lesson. When you ask for something - there are a couple of things that you should do. Be very specific and ask them to drop it off at your house and you get to CHECK THROUGH it (before they leave) to see that it's what you want. Second, if someone has stuff - ask how much they have. I will NEVER do that again. If I'm looking for something, I'll be so specific that people will be afraid to offer up stuff!

I had asked for sheets and pillowcases so I could make the bags to put the scraps in. There wasn't a single pillowcase or sheet in all those boxes and bags.

Well - then I got totally crazy. I went through the stuff that was under the stairs and some of that is included in the above pile. You can tell by picking up the bag what's in it - heavy means yardage - light means scraps.

And then this happened. I went back to what was left under the stairs and I took it out of the tubs. Now the four tubs are EMPTY!! EMPTY!! I was practically giddy!

Four empty tubs

The best part - I don't want the tubs. They are up for grabs. I should sell these - I'm going to put on Facebook Marketplace. How about $15 for all four of them? If one of you wants them and can do a pickup - $15.

And look at all that space I'm going to have when the tubs are gone! There's even better news! There's NOTHING to be put in that space. It stays EMPTY. I'm giddy!!!

Soon to be empty space under the stairs

I'm not out of the woods yet. I did MOVE some of that stuff (see - managing the darn stuff yet again!). All the remaining bags that I haven't been through are now crammed into there four IKEA bags. That's so much more manageable than what I've been dealing with. Four IKEA bags. That's it!

Bags of scraps to sort through

OK - I'm lying. There's still this pile of scraps in Studio U. I checked it and these look like a simple process of opening the pet mat bag and dumping the scraps into them. Of course, I'll check through them first because I've found PINS and NEEDLES in the past. Good grief people - can no one think????

Bags of scraps to sort through in Studio U for pet mats

I even got rid of a box that was on "my" side of the window seat. So this is all that remains for the community projects scrap pile.

Community projects scrap pile

I bet I could take ONE day and get it all finished. I just have to be in the right mood and I seem to be in the mood these days. Well - I did say that I wanted to be done by the sewing retreat and that's just under two weeks away. I'll see how it goes. I do have other things to do.

But I'm on a roll and I can't imagine the MENTAL FREEDOM to have that mess cleaned up!!!! Then I move up the "fabric chain" and start to make things from what's been sorted. I like that part!

What I need are the bags to put the scraps in. I have three left from my pet mat making marathon the last time. I have a HUGE stack of upholstery samples that I'm using. I have my big ruler back, so it's a breeze to cut those pieces. I believe I got six of the samples cut up this morning. I'll share more of that process another day.

Cutting upholstery samples to make pet mat bags

I have a road trip planned for this morning. Oh yes - once I get an idea in my head - I want to get it done! And I just needed an excuse to get out of the house that doesn't involve walking!

I ran around yesterday to get ready for the trip. You'll see why tomorrow. But it involves getting rid of this sewing machine. It's a Husqvarna Viking 500 Computer sewing machine. I don't know what year it was made, but it's a super little sewing machine.  Just checked - the late 1990s. I've come to the realization that I do NOT need this machine. I have loads of other machines - we're not going to count them this morning and I have loaners as well.

Husqvarna Viking 500 sewing machine

So when I heard of someone that was looking for a used machine, I offered her this one. She's going to test it out.

The one thing it doesn't have which I seem to NEED for sewing now is the Exclusive Sensor System. Essentially, this machine is NOT automatic - it has a presser foot lever. Oh my - such an archaic way of sewing!! I've not really used a machine like this in over TWENTY years. I'm so used to the automatic presser foot, that well - I'm just spoiled.

The presser foot lever

But it's got a great design. I love how the extension table and the foot pedal fit on the back of the sewing machine to make one neat package.

The extension table and the foot pedal

Will I regret selling it? NO! I have no need for it as a sewing machine and I certainly don't want a ton of older machines hanging around just because. I'd just have to find a home for it eventually and now is a perfect time.

The cover was also very cleverly designed with room for the power cord and manual.

A slot for the power cord and the  manual

All the bits are there - I checked. I think Karen is going to be excited. She thinks this is a big fancy sewing machine. I dare not show her my EPIC 2!!!!

I tested it this morning while making the binding for the last of my quilts sitting on the table with no binding made. It worked like a charm - great tension. Although it took a bit to get the needle threaded - NO needle threader.

Binding is made for the North Star quilt

I managed to get some of the fabric recut for the magazine quilt and I trimmed all the half square triangles that had been sewn. And they are put away as well!!!

Half square triangles trimmed

That's one thing about the new me. I now have to run around the house actually putting things away. But everything has a home so it's a breeze to do. All the scraps from cutting - either go in the scrap bin or they go in the scrap box to be used for something else. Rulers get tucked back in the ruler holder, threads and tools back in the boxes so they don't disappear. It takes mere seconds to do that versus looking at a daunting task when the piles are so high you can't see the cutting table. I sure wish I had learned that lesson a LONG time ago.

However, I'm now in that frame of mind so I'm good. And I'm LOVING it.

I want to share this picture from the Route 66 Virtual Challenge this morning. I'll be getting to the Texas/Oklahoma border in a couple of days. The challenge actually follows Route 66. Some of the actual roads still exist, while other parts have been taken over by the interstates.

But look at this - this is what the highway USED TO LOOK LIKE. One narrow chunk of pavement for coming and going. Can you imagine driving for hours on that road?

Route 66 near the Texas/Oklahoma border

Ronda and her daughter drove Route 66 a couple of years ago. I want to drive it - it looks like so much fun. And stopping along the way to see some of the sites. One day!

When I was out walking yesterday, I saw this pile of furniture at the curb. I hate this - why can't people just call 1-800 got junk and not leave it strewn on their lawn? But look at those ORANGE chairs! I passed!

Orange chairs

Speaking of garbage, here's another thing I have an issue with. Have you ever noticed how attractive packaging is? And how unnecessary it is? This big box with folding parts and a little drawer held EIGHTEEN tea bags and a small spoon holder. Each tea bag was individually wrapped in a pyramid-shaped box. And some of the packaging that cell phones and other small electronics come in - they are so well designed and so heavy that you hate to throw them out. But they have logos and crap on them so why would you keep that in your house?

Fancy packaging

I'd rather buy something in a plain old brown box or plastic bag if it meant the cost would be less. I hate EXCESSIVE packaging or packaging that was made to make the product more attractive than it really is. What a WASTE!!!!! 

Oh well. It's not a perfect world by any means.

Don't forget the Virtual Sewing Retreat coming up on May 27 - 31. Someone asked me how it's going to work. Hmm - good question. I was thinking of having a Zoom call at one point during each day, but HEY - I can run Zoom all day, then people can drop in and out as they want to. I'll be in Studio U all day so why not.

If anyone has any other suggestions about hosting the Virtual Retreat, let me know. You can e-mail me. 

But if you're going to participate, you'd better start prepping!!! I have a scrap quilt and TWO bags prepped. I have one more project that I need to get prepped. Gosh - I thought I had five projects for the retreat. Maybe there's only four. And guess what? They fit in ONE laundry basket!!! I believe even the toolbox will fit in there.

So get yourself organized! Even if you only sew for one day! It'll be fun to pop in and see what everyone else is sewing that day.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!

Multitasking is not a good thing

I really do need to create a list of lost items. Not that that is going to help me find the missing items, but at least I'll know what I can't find and I can celebrate when I find the darn things. Like those bodkins and the doll patterns and a person's phone number and, and. I might have a stab at creating that list later today.

I actually got excited yesterday. Why? Because I had a couple of errands in the afternoon and another Zoom call. I had THINGS to do! I had three things to mail at the post office so that was my big excursion. It was a non-event. I was the only person in the store beside the clerk and she took my items, I paid with my debit card, and I was out of there.

I had to pick up something from Diane - more on that by the end of the week. And I had a great call with a friend. But besides that, I got a lot accomplished yesterday. I've realized that the more time one spends on the computer (and going through e-mail), the less one gets done in a day. I try to limit my time on e-mail, and I figured I'd have to spend 3 or 4 or sometimes even more hours in a day to keep the mailbox clean. That's not going to happen at my house.

I try to deal with the personal e-mails first and there are a few that I need to respond to. I haven't forgotten you! Then I try to deal with the work ones and lastly the ones from mailing lists. I check my favorite links first and then the rest - well. I'm not sure how to deal with it all. I don't want to delete myself from some of the lists as I do like to see what's currently selling in the quilting world even if I'm not buying.

These days, there is much more than just e-mail. People might send a text, or an Instagram message or through Facebook or Instagram. And let's not forget What's App. It can be a lot to digest in a single day and you could really spend a lot of time keeping up with it all. Matter of fact, you could spend the entire day! And as much as I love you all, I don't want to spend my entire day responding or reacting to messages and pictures. I aim for a happy medium.

I have to mention a new author (new to me) that I finished the audiobook yesterday. The Widow by Fiona Barton. Oh boy -- this is a thriller and it was great right to the end. I seem to be reading books set in Europe these days. First, it was France, then the UK, and my current one is set in Sweden. The bonus of the audiobooks is that the narrators use the accents that pertain to the region and it makes the book so much more interesting. I LOVE it. Anyway - if you haven't read The Widow and like physiological thrillers - this one is good.

I was busy as a bee yesterday. I did clean a few more things off the worktables. I tell you, why or why do we collect those little trinkets that we pick up at shows? The companies make them so darn enticing - shiny! And we NEED to pick them up. Seriously??? I think they should ban that kind of stuff. It just becomes junk when we get home. I think that's the worst problem that I'm dealing with. I'll be sharing some of those "treasures" with you.

I think with anything - the BIGGEST issue we all face is making the decision. Do I keep? Do I recycle? Do I give away? Or sell? Or repurpose? Or whatever - but we tend to fall short on making decisions and so stuff becomes clutter. I'm getting better at making decisions. Whether it's right or wrong - just make a decision and move on!!!

I think I now have ALL my embroidery floss in one area. I seem to have inherited quite a bit from other sources over the years and now it resides in one container and one basket. I'm sure that could be compressed a wee bit if I went in and sorted it a bit more. But my goal is to get like items together. Then I can sort through the stuff another day.

Two containers of embroidery floss

And there's one container with Perle Cotton.

Perle Cotton

Then I looked at some of the patterns that were sitting on the table. Oh boy - There's a small handful of some OLD patterns. When I gave all my patterns away last year, I went through the containers and kept a few as keepsakes. Don't ask - I'm allowed. There are less than 10. But what about those patterns on the right and in the middle. Do you all remember those?? That was the sort of thing that was being designed (and made) just as I was getting into quilting. Oh - yes - I can so see myself with that sweatshirt with the big flowers on the front! NOT!!!! And that dress? I don't think that's going to happen. It's just not my style.

Clothing patterns

I'm sure that no one wants those patterns. And I'm sure they have been circulated a few times from one household to another. So here's the thing - do I do us all a favor and toss them? I think I should. However - should anyone be interested, I can provide better pictures and you're welcome to them. Otherwise, I think I'm going to recycle them.

Some of the clothing patterns are definitely vintage - or close to it since vintage is supposed to be 100 years. Look at this little pattern for making a doll dress (16" doll). It's very old. I'm keeping that little stack for me. Just because!

Vintage doll pattern

I got the binding completely sewn on the wall hanging. The sleeve got made as well. It's pinned in place and now needs to be hand-stitched.

The sleeve is ready to be handstitched 

 I got a customer quilt done. Yeah!!! I'll get it trimmed today so it can be picked up later this week. The next quilt is already loaded and ready to go this morning.

Customer quilt - DONE

I got the border on this quilt that is going to Quilts of Valour. The binding and the backing got made as well and it's in the queue to be quilted this month.

Quilt top, backing and binding ready to be quilted

My current audiobook needs to go back in 4 days so I have a lot to listen to over the next couple of days. I decided to continue sewing in Studio B and got this little quilt together. This is the one that I ripped apart the day before. The one that had Cuddle, flannel, and cotton in it. The brown border and the corner blocks were supposed to be Cuddle. I substituted cotton for both. I realized when I went to press the last border that I sewed it on upside down (there's a directional print) so that has to come off today.

Small quilt is back together

I checked the hunk of fabric (flannel) for the backing. Of course, it's not the right size. So I'll have to find something else. I was thinking of adding another border to make it a little bit larger. It's 30 by 36. I'll see what I do about it later today. I might even replace the flannel as well. I should have done that right off the bat.  You know- we all talk about multi-tasking, but I am NOT good at it.

If I'm listening to an audiobook, I need a totally mindless task to do. I can't think about two things at the same time. Stop the book and PLAN, then do the mindless sewing. Oh well - I'm not worried about it. It's not like I have anything with a deadline right at the moment. OK - that's a total lie, but you know what I mean.

I'm just plugging away at the piles - one thing at a time with the odd small (new) thing thrown in. I'm loving this process.

I got this block back in one piece (and all points are now going in the right direction) and the seams are pressed to my satisfaction. I'm happy and the block will be filed away with the other Christmas Fig blocks.

Christmas Fig block

In my cleaning, I found a little bag of half-square triangles. Already trimmed so later today, those will be placed with the others in the tin.

Half-square triangles

I trimmed the last of the random ones sitting on the cutting table and those will also be filed away later today. It's one thing to get these things sewn and then trimmed, but one must be diligent about putting things in their permanent home or it becomes clutter. Ask me how I know that!!!

More half-square triangles trimmed

AHA -- it was time to grab something NEW from the laundry basket. Remember - this isn't new - it's just the process of whittling down some stuff that's been hanging around.

I grabbed this. Now - you're NOT allowed to judge me. I like to fiddle with small things and I'm a keeper of all things. This was in one of the scrap bags from a while back. I had embroidered snowflakes on the border of a Santa quilt. I didn't like the look, so I ended up appliqueing snowflakes. What to do with the border? Instead of trashing it, I saved it with the scraps and never dealt with it.

The seam is split open

I managed to get FIVE little blocks with embroidery on them. This last one was on the mitered corner seam. And the seam had started to come open. What to do? I zigzagged the seam back together and then cut out the block.

That required setting up the sewing machine for something other than a straight stitch. I do love the safety setting. Even though I choose a zigzag stitch, the machine wouldn't sew anything but a straight stitch UNTIL I turned off the Stitch Width Safety. Thank you Opal 690Q by Husqvarna Viking for that little safety feature.

Safety message

And why is that important? because I like to sew with my Straight Stitch plate on the sewing machine. So I switched stitch plates, changed the foot, and changed the threads to bobbin weight thread and decorative thread.

Rejigging the sewing machine for decorative stitches

Here's a picture of my repaired snowflake block.

The repaired snowflake block

And here are the six blocks. Now to find something to make with them. In the meantime, they go into the orphan block box.

Six embroidered snowflake blocks

So with that small task out of the way, it was time to choose one more "new" project from the laundry basket. I choose this one.

NEW project

This shouldn't take that long to finish. The applique is all fused in place, but I like to do a satin stitch around the raw edges. It's just a "ME" thing. The stitching is completed around the lettering, but not the cat, the bats, the stars and the moon. I had brought up the necessary supplies (thread and stabilizer) and I was ready to go.

I managed to get one of the bats done this morning. All those points, but when you know how to turn the corners and you have a sewing machine (the Opal 690Q) with the most AMAZING satin stitch ever, well, it goes fast.

One of the bats is done

Here's a closeup of one of the points. Not bad!!  And I have WHITE Bobbin thread in the machine. Like I said, the satin stitch (not a compressed zigzag) is the BEST ever.

Detail of turning the corner with satin stitch

A quick update on the backyard. Those lily pads are growing like weeds and the leaves hit the surface a couple of days ago. This is a picture I snapped when it was feeding frenzy time. Those fish are little pigs. They love to eat.

A feeding frenzy in the pond

I've got a load of things to get done today and one of them is to finish off my presentation TONIGHT on needles.

Sewing machine needles

Here's the information to get into the presentation. You should just be able to click on the link and that'll take you to the meeting. You shouldn't need the ID or the password. But just in case.


Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89221265363?pwd=SWxkV0srSFAxd2s5dmFGSDJvWURuZz09

Meeting ID: 892 2126 5363
Password: 480367

 I was hoping to set it up as a webinar, but I can't do that. So it's going to be like a meeting and we can have up to 100 people attend. I really just want to test the format and my tools and see how it goes. I'll welcome any feedback. There'll be a chat room on the right-hand side of the screen so you can ask questions. I'll explain all when we're at the meeting. And if you have any specific questions, you can send them to my e-mail and I'll try to have answers by tonight.

On that note, I'm out of here!!!!

Have a super day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!