OWN it NOW!!!

While I might be inspiring you, you are inspiring me, too! I hear your words of encouragement in my head when I want to quit. And then I think about how fun it will be to share the finish with you the next day, which keeps me going. 

I think starting the blog, almost TWENTY years ago, was a very good thing. They say journaling is therapeutic, and I believe it. It just took me a bit of time to get myself organized so that I knew how to deal with the physical and mental mess around me! 

But if you're not a writer, the same thing can be done with lists, whether they are handwritten or on the computer. Use a calendar, a book, a piece of paper - it doesn't matter - you have to find something that works for you! However, you decide what works best for you. I've tried multiple ways and have finally settled on a bit of visual and written content to get me organized! On Sunday, I write a list of things I would like completed in Studio B by the end of the week. I think I put 21 things on that list this week, so three per day. Oops - I forgot to check the list this morning, but I'm working away at it. I'm not sure I'll get everything done, but I would sure like to!! The most important thing is that I have goals for the week. There is NO time to even consider starting a new project. 

I know I promised photos for Colour My World, but it's going to have to wait another day. There is too much stuff happening. 

These three little wall hangings were in the UFO blue bucket for January, and I managed to finish two of them for the UFO Club date. Now all three are complete! They are about 10 inches high, and each was quilted and bound differently. Why just make something when it can become a sample! 

These were started when the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 was released to showcase the huge appliqué lettering built into that machine. Many people spelled out EPIC 3, but seriously? What will I ever do with that? So I chose three letters that I could switch up that would mean something to me. 

Won -- because that's what's happening in my life. I have WON the decluttering battle - well, I'm well on my way to winning that one. 

Version One

Whatever you do, you need to own the problem. 

Version Two

Lastly, do it NOW - don't wait!!

Version Three

I'm pretty happy with them and so glad they are now done! And more fun than EPIC 3. Thank goodness I'm a freelance educator; otherwise, I'd be in trouble having to write the letters expected of me. I handstitched the binding on that pink one, and I must have jabbed the needle into the side of my thumb because it hurts! A good reason not to spend a lot of time on handwork!

I got my Conqueror medal for 2025. This was the one where I had set a very aggressive goal of 4,400 km for the year, and had to scale it back to 3,660. You know what? I have zero issues with that. I dare you to say that I don't deserve that medal! 

However, the company sews the strap with a twist, so it loops better around your neck. I have no idea, but since I will never wear these medals, that twist must be dealt with. So I unpicked the stitches and sewed it back the way I wanted. 

Got to unpick this! 

And then I was able to hang it up with all the other medals. Actually, there are about five more to add to this, but the straps need to be fixed! I know -- do it NOW!!!! Fixing that strap was on this week's list, and it took mere minutes to change. The items do not need to be huge, but they need to have a purpose. 

Some of my Conqueror medals

Here's a close-up of the 2025 Conqueror medal. It's hard to believe that I've participated for six years in a row. My annual medals are on the right, while the special ones are on theleft. 

The 2025 Conqueror Medal

Oh gosh -- before I continue this morning, I have to share this story. When I met DH, we both worked for the same company; he was in sales, and I was in marketing/accounting. At some point, I switched to sales and loved it. But how many times did I hear him ask me, "Are you earning money with that task?" I guess I spent a lot of time doing things that weren't taking me toward my goal, which was making quota and earning commissions. He's a bit more focused on money than I am! 

But that is still my problem today. I'm happy to do the niggly little clean-up jobs that really don't take me to the end game - at least not immediately, but I find I need those little jobs to steady myself, and to learn patience and perseverance. Money - be damned!

It was time to clear out the scrap box on the cutting table, and so another pet mat was made. It was easy to whip the cover off the serger, plug it in, and then sew up the end. Then the serger was unplugged, and the cover went back on. Easy peasy! Yep- the pet mat was on the list!

One pet mat - DONE

I need to get myself busy and start taking pictures and videos, so I put up my backdrop! I LOVE that setup, and it took only a few minutes to set it up!! It looks so weird in the space, but I'm OK with that. Depending on how the pictures turn out, I may need a second one, so we'll see how that goes. But don't you just love it when an easy solution is found? 

The back side of my backdrop

For the jacket class, I'm working on a sweatshirt jacket and starting with the sleeves. Then I have to embellish the back and front, and add length to the sleeves and the body, since the ribbing has been removed. The first sleeve is done. I used chenille yarn and the three-hole yarn foot to couch the chenille in place. I LOVE that technique and could couch chenille on everything! 

But when I removed the second sleeve from the sweatshirt, I was puzzled. Why does it look like I have two left sleeves? I was tired last night, so I may have made a mistake. I'll have a look at it later today. YES -- getting the sleeves done is on the list! 

The sleeves for my sweatshirt jacket

In March of 2024, Dede and I decided to work on the Terrifying Tower - a 3D machine embroidery project. Wait a minute - let me rephrase that. Dede wanted to do the project and asked if I wanted to join her. Well, I didn't want to be left out, and I "knew" it would be a great learning experience, so I agreed. We did a prototype in March 2024, and there it sat until just before Christmas 2025, when we spent one day cutting the foam, another day cutting the vinyl, and a third day actually starting to stitch the files. 

Well, I goofed on one piece by not cutting the reverse of it - DUH! And my embroidery machine wasn't happy with one of the designs (still no idea why), so I had a few pieces that needed to be recut. 

I opened the Brother Scan and Cut, which is sitting on the table and ready to use. I managed to cut the required foam piece. Even after using the rolling pin to compress the foam, the cutter still wasn't happy and stopped about 4 times, saying the material I was trying to cut was too thick. And my response was, "I don't care - cut the stuff!" I pressed START one more time, and this time it worked. I'll show you who is the boss!! 

Cutting one last piece of foam for the 3-D tower

Then I had to cut one piece of green and two pieces of purple vinyl. Dede has the black vinyl and will be bringing the missing three pieces for me when she comes tomorrow. I don't know what was happening to me, but I was tired or something, and anyway, it was down to the wire (after two silly miscuts) that I had this small piece of purple vinyl left. OH MY—could I fit my shape onto it? OH YES -- since I now know the fine-tune move tools, I managed to get that piece to fit the vinyl's position on the mat. 

Fine-tuning the position on the screen

And voila - the shape was cut!!!! I refuse to take no for an answer. I did struggle a little bit because I needed to mirror the shapes, and if there were two pieces (a wall with a window), I don't think it's possible to mirror that on the machine, so I had to open the software. Yikes!!!! How the heck do I mirror this as one piece? But I persevered, figured it out, and then transferred the design back to the Scan and Cut, cutting all the pieces I could. 

The last piece of vinyl was cut! 

I did not have someone to ask. I didn't need it. I just used that mouse, hovered over everything on the screen, and clicked menus open until I found the command. And while it's fresh in my memory, I should play with the software again so I remember how to do it next time. And there will be a next time! Dede said, " We couldn't buy another 3D design until this one was done. Hmmmm...... 

I won't worry until I have to, but this thread is getting low. I think I'm going to be OK. 

One of my threads is getting low

I'm kind of following Dede's lead on this, and we both agreed to work on the project at home, although, as mentioned, we are getting together tomorrow. Then, for the UFO Club, she sent me a picture of what she had done and said she wanted all the pieces done by the next UFO Club. YIKES!!!!! I'd better get myself organized. 

I'm using a larger hoop and can fit three or four pieces in it at once. And so at the end of the Monday Sewing session, where I babysat the embroidery machine and trimmed away threads and stabilizers, this is my status. 

The pieces for my 3D tower

There are twenty-three pieces (22 different files). I have 17 pieces complete, and two (completed) are in the hoop on the embroidery machine, with two more to finish later today. That will take me to twenty-one pieces complete, leaving two for tomorrow. I can't go ahead and do those, as I need the black vinyl that Dede is bringing. So, unless there is a significant issue, we should both be able to finish our pieces by the next UFO Club. 

I stitched out the green shapes this morning. They are all part of one section of the house (think of folding corners). It's incredible how they have constructed this, and I'll share how it goes together when we get there. The two purple shapes are the ones for this afternoon. 

My machine embroidery task for today

Since neither my vinyl nor my foam is fusible, you have to hold those shapes in place during the tack-down stitches, which I'm OK with. But Dede started a glue stick, so I tried it, and it works pretty well. You still have to hold the pieces down, but they don't move around as much. 

However, I emptied one glue stick last night. Now, where the heck are my glue sticks? I'm sure I have a small white container of glue sticks, but they were nowhere to be found. As I passed by the retreat supply bag, I remembered there was a glue stick in there. 

The retreat supply box

So that glue stick got pulled out. I MUST remember to put it back or buy a new one! Or try to find that little white box. It is NOT in with the supplies, yet I remember touching it when I was moving a bunch of things around a while back. Hmm - might be just easier to buy a new one. 

The retreat box glue stick

WOW --- what a busy day, and I was mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day! Which is good - I want to be that way.

Oh, how I wish I could take a picture of the complete scene, but since DH was right in the middle, that won't do. But last night, while I was working downstairs, DH was watching TV. Hmmm -- I haven't heard anything about the remote lately. But Miss Lexi was sleeping in her bed on one side. 

Miss Lexi on the left

And Miss Murphy was sleeping on the other side!!! Dog bookends!!!

Miss Murphy on the right

Well, I'm off on a bit of an adventure this morning, so I'd better get myself organized for that!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

The facts of life

Don't worry -- I will be donating, BUT not until January 2. I have two pairs of winter boots that I know someone can use. However, since I am donating to an organization that turns around and sells the items, I might as well benefit and get a discount coupon. Since that coupon is only valid until December 31, 2025, it doesn't make sense to donate now. The donation can wait until January 2. What I'll donate, if anything, will be lightweight summer items for the most part. 

That may sound callous, but that's my decision, and I'm sticking to it! Besides, I still need to cull the items, and I have work to do this week. So I may not finish the culling until the new year! But don't worry -- I always have a box in the office for donations. When it's full, it gets donated!

We had a murder in our backyard yesterday. It's always a shock to open the door and see a lovely present on the deck. The girls have been stalking a rabbit for days now. The silly things like to hide under the deck, although the girls can no longer get under it. Does anyone remember the time when Murphy got stuck under the deck in the winter, and I had to call animal services to help me get her out? 

The rabbits also take cover under the gazebo, and the girls can get under there, but only on one side, so the rabbits torment the girls by staying on the side where the dogs can't reach them. I suspect, based on the girls' behavior, that the rabbits were also hiding under some of the bushes. While Murphy has a speedway carved under the bushes, the rabbit was probably very close to the roots of the low bushes, so the dogs could not get to it. 

I suspect Murphy was the culprit. She is like a "dog with a bone" and won't let the rabbits alone if one comes into our backyard. I can't blame the dogs for getting the rabbit. The rabbit was stupid enough to stick around even though it knew there was danger in this backyard and had plenty of time to move on. Why not pick the neighbor's backyard? Those who don't have dogs? Or go into the forest to live. 

So I got my trusty shovel and winged it over the fence INTO THE FOREST. Do not yell at me for winging it into someone's backyard. Hopefully, a coyote will have visited in the night and cleaned up the evidence! The circle of life, except it's not really a circle, but it's the facts of life, I guess, is a better way to describe it. 

I went walking with my gorgeous mittens again, and I love them! While someone is looking on, hopeful that she can go for a walk, as well. Alas, the afternoon walk is not for dogs! 

My mittens match my down sweater!

DH and I had to abandon the EXIT Games for a while due to travel and dinner dates (for him, not me), and we finally dug out the game we had partially completed weeks ago. It took a bit to orient ourselves, but we managed to get through the next puzzle. I am constantly stunned at how neither one of us can solve a puzzle on our own. We looked at the clues, but he didn't see anything. I looked at the clues, and I spotted the first part pretty quickly. Then onto the second level of the same puzzle. I couldn't see anything, but after a few minutes, he spotted it. I said, "NO WAY," but tried the code, and it worked! 

However, we are on one puzzle (there must be one more after this), and we are stumped, so I'm on my own for dinner this week. I'll give it a whirl. We haven't even touched the Advent Calendar. That will be something to do in January. 

Back to work on the EXIT Game

How is this for a universal language we can all understand? I love it because we do not laugh enough in this world. As I was walking yesterday along the busy street on my way to the drugstore, I pulled my shoulders back and put a smile on my face, and even laughed to myself at times. I wonder how many of the drivers thought I was mad. Nope - just happy. And while the weather wasn't all that exciting - a bit of snow and slightly cool, it was a glorious day for a walk. Did I see anyone else out there? Not a soul. 

A quote from my Yogi tea

I managed to remove one sleeve from my sweatshirt in my quest to remake it into a jacket. I was debating whether the sleeve would have a definite front and back. Yep --- it does. It's a raglan sleeve, and it's easy to see the front and back, but I also marked it just in case! Now to plan what I'm putting on it. I already know what, but I have to design where the elements will go. I also need to lengthen the sleeve, so I need to figure out how to do that. Then I'll take the remaining sleeve off and get that one done. Then the body. Slow and steady!

The sleeve of my sweatshirt

Now let's look at what I bought the previous day. I went to the hardware store and purchased an over-the-door hook. It came in a package of two, so I put one on another door in Studio B and will use it to hang a decoration I'm making. 

Over-the-door hook

I have this gorgeous wall art that's been hanging in Studio U for years. It used to be M's. I was using it as a visual "to-do" list. 

A funky wire rack

Some things had been on the rack for so long that they were meaningless. What does this mean? It's gone! 

A meaningless note to myself

This saying is on the rack, and I love it, so it stays. I think this fits me to a T. I don't have the best of everything, and I'm thrilled to wear years-old T-shirts instead of the latest trends. I do need to buy some new bras! I'm down to one, and it's so stretched that - well, it needs to be replaced. I've definitely got my money's worth from them. People always talk about how uncomfortable a bra is, but I pay a lot of money for my bras and have them professionally fit. I've never called them uncomfortable, and since I wear them until they are practically stretched beyond wearability, the cost is definitely worth it. I got a coupon in the mail from the store, and I must make a trip soon! 

A happy quote

And this ornament that someone gave me is also on the rack. It also stays because I want to ride my bike more in 2026. 

A Christmas ornament

As the groups and classes are winding down for 2025, I've been encouraging the groups to set goals for 2026. If it's a class, then the obvious goal is to finish the quilt in the time frame for that class - or as close to it as possible. For the clubs (Machine Embroidery, UFO Club, and Many Blocks), each person picks their own items to finish. And I'm all about FINISHING, rather than starting something new. 

I picked some categories where I would like to finish some projects. And I decided to make myself a VISUAL list. I took some pictures of the book/pattern and the current state of the project. Then I printed them out and attached them to the rack. 

The start of my visual To Do list

The rack is metal, so I can easily use the magnets I purchased earlier this year. And all is good. Years ago, I remember my brother putting a picture of a truck he wanted to buy on the kitchen cupboard. Every time he saw that, he was reminded of his goal. This will be the same for me. A visual! 

Packs of magnets

I put those pictures into the Blog 2026 folder and then a subfolder for 2026 goals, so it will be easy at the end of the year to pull up and see if I actually completed the items. As I finish an item, the plan is to remove the picture from the rack. It will be interesting to see the beginning and the end picture. 

For those four projects above, ONE of them only needs to be quilted (Vintage Christmas). One needs to have the top finished sewing together - Vintage Farm Girl, the next one is Dear Jen. The blocks (all I'm doing) are complete, and I'm in the process of framing them and sewing them together. The final one is a biggy (Sylvia's Bridal Sampler) - and there are still blocks to sew together. But it's all doable with my lightened schedule. If I end 2026 still working on the fourth one? I'm OK with that. 

And isn't it funny that when we put something away we just purchased, it's the place we go to find it? I went to the drawer units and realized the snap set I bought is not there. Shoot -- what did I do with it? Then I remembered that I had moved all the tools into the stash room and into labeled boxes. Once I remembered that, it was a simple matter of removing the labelled box from the shelf! 

My box of snaps

As DH was leaving for his dinner appointment, a box was sitting on the doorstep. Hmmm --- who ordered something? Well, he ordered it, but it was for me. What was in the box? 

More puzzles!!!!! OK -- I have no choice but to get my butt in gear and tidy up Studio U and clear off a space to work! I can hardly wait, but I still have some writing assignments, two gifts I decided to make at the last minute—wait—— to finish from last year, four customer quilts to quilt, and one entire quilt to make. But things will quiet down in our house tomorrow, when my SIL leaves for a couple of weeks. 

The puzzles are hand-painted and represent cities. Toronto Island and New York. I believe it is a Canadian company called Paper Hood. There is one more to come, but apparently the Ottawa puzzle was featured in the Globe and Mail, and it flew off the shelves. 

Toronto Island

New York

While I enjoy my SIL's company, it's not the same as working alone! We did some machine embroidery last night, and OH BOY—the pattern she picked was a doozy. The written instructions were mostly OK, but the stitching order was a nightmare. If someone were new to machine embroidery, they would have tossed it. However, I went back and forth through the colors and made it work. I shall be writing a letter to the company I purchased it. Apparently, there have been other complaints about this designer. 

Murphy is so content to be outside, and when she is not stalking rabbits, she loves to lie in the snow. 

MOM - the snow cools my tummy!

Lexi, on the other hand, is perfectly happy to stay indoors! Now, why is that? 

MOM -- snow is overrated! 

I've got a load of things to accomplish today, but at a relaxed pace. I NEED to get those two gifts finished today, and I'm close. I should be OK, and then I need to load a customer quilt on the long arm so I can tackle that tomorrow, along with some writing. 

The temperatures are getting warmer every day this week, and if you dress for the weather, it's no big deal to be outside. Remember -- perception and attitude can go a long way toward living a happy, stress-free life! If you think my SIL is lucky to have a resident quilt teacher, think again! I don't do shortcuts - things need to be done the RIGHT way. I make her do things she'd rather not do! But the result is very nice, so be careful what you wish for! 

On that happy note, I'm out of here! 

Ciao!!!!

Think outside the box!!!

OH MY --- I LOVE the Christmas gift exchange idea that was posted as a comment on the blog yesterday. Give a recycled item in good condition to someone! Of course, you don't spring this on people - you ask first if they are OK with the concept. It must have been a hit because they are doing it again this year. An elegant way to recycle and gift at the same time. I love it! Imagine the conversations you could have about the items you are giving? That would be the best part! 

And I have several suggestions for fixing the hat, so that is on the list of things to do this coming week. I wore my toque yesterday, and it was warm, but I still prefer my hat. I checked the Tilley website, and they no longer sell that style of hat. It's all about toques. I forgot to take a picture of it yesterday. 

I'm sure I must have posted it on my blog at some point, but I can't find the picture. However, I found this instead. OH MY  - a post from 2014, and I was cleaning up my clothes. The post's date is March 12, 2014. I think this is the BEGINNING of my cleaning up the clutter. I put all my clothes on the floor in the bedroom and then sorted them. 

Hmmm -- I think it's time to do that again. I don't buy many clothes, but I end up with so many I don't wear. And I must reread that book I was reading - Throw Out 50 Things by Gail Blanke! I was listening to audiobooks way back then!! Who knew? OH -- I just reread the blog --- I was listening to the book on an iPod!!! What's an iPod? 

That might be a good exercise to do over the holidays. I can put all my clothes together on the floor and start sorting. I wonder if I have more or less than in 2014. It better be less! And I need to be even more ruthless than I was before! I also need to retire some T-shirts, and this might be a good time to do it. 

What's hilarious is that I remember saying, on multiple occasions, that I would start the decluttering process at the top and work my way down to the basement. Then I would start all over again and keep doing that until we had barely anything left. I started that process in 2014. I haven't finished the first sweep yet!! 

In all fairness, I have made giant leaps and bounds in getting rid of and tidying up what exists in this house. I had hoped to completely do the office, but it has progressed so much. Perhaps it is time to restart at the top and work my way down! The first thing is the clothes! OK -- I feel the urge to purge coming on! 

By the way -- does anyone know of a Canadian store that sells Electric Quilt books? I want to get one, but shipping from the US is $25 USD, and I'm not prepared to pay that. I can buy it from my favorite online store - still very expensive, but then any paper product coming from the US is costly because of tariffs. 

I had to keep looking at the blog, and yes—there is the hat. Not the best picture, but I've had the hat forever, and it's fantastic. I'll get that hat band fixed!

I have two presentations this morning, and I got everything done, except loading one more picture that I'm sending to myself. I didn't quite get as much accomplished as I would have liked, but I did great! I have some follow-up emails to send out today, and then all that's left for this year is one more writing assignment and the UFO club next weekend. Whatever will I do with my time? Just kidding!

Look what popped into my mailbox yesterday. Not only do I have a new toque, but I have new mitts! They are hand-made (knitted) and then felted! They are gorgeous!!! THANK YOU - THANK YOU!!!!! I can't wait to wear them this morning while walking the dogs. Although, should I really wear them? Leather dog leashes can be harsh on stuff like this. I may wear my old mitts and keep these for walking! By myself!

My new felted mittens

Murphy was on an absolute tear with her bed and blankets yesterday. She grabbed the bed in her mouth and pulled it way across the room. I just stood there and watched her. It was hilarious! And of course, she did that while I did my Zoom calls at the kitchen table. I only froze for a couple of seconds twice that I could tell, but the internet did not drop. YEAH!!!!! Now to get those pods properly installed so I don't have to Zoom from the kitchen. She also found a bone and started banging it on the floor while I was talking. Just like a kid - make a lot of noise while Mom is busy and can't discipline me! 

The aftermath of Murphy's rampage!

Later, I moved the bed back and got her settled so she could chew on her bone. I think that lasted for all of 5 seconds before she was on the move again! She is ten years old and still acts like a puppy!

MOM -- I won't stay here! 

My SIL had been out in the afternoon, came back, and said I was going to be mad at her. Why? What did she do? OH -- she bought me a cookie!!! That's OK. And the cookie was great! 

My snowman cookie

While I was sewing a quilt for myself yesterday, I grabbed some of the half-square triangles from this little bucket and pressed and trimmed them. 

A bucket of half-square triangles to press and trim

Plus, I trimmed all the ones that I made while sewing my quilt! I need to get those things cleaned up! All progress is progress - it doesn't matter how slow we work!

Half-square triangles trimmed!

I dug out one of my Christmas quilts. I laugh when I see this - I designed and made the quilt back in 2016 or thereabouts. It was published in a magazine with Northcott fabrics. I accidentally sent the same design to two different editors, and they both accepted it. Ooops! So I had to design a SECOND quilt with the same collection for one of the editors. I still have both quilts! 

One of my Christmas quilts

I will admit that the fabric is the classic Christmas colors, and the quilt is beautiful! Now I can snuggle under it (probably the first time it's been used) until after the holidays. My decorating is complete!

Now you may want to see what I was muttering on about yesterday. Well, we had a jacket class yesterday, and the topic was sweatshirt jackets. I was researching different ideas, and this is the type of jacket I was going to do - cover a sweatshirt in fabric. This is one that I made years ago, and it's mostly covered with raw-edge patchwork. You can still see some of the sweatshirt between the patches. 

My sweatshirt jacket

I was going to make another jacket, but this time I would completely cover it with fabric. That was until I spotted this. 

I LOVE THIS!!!!!

You can find the pattern at this link. 

So I had to go shopping, and while shopping, I had my thinking cap on, and well, I'm going down a completely different road now. I must always be aware that if I can make the jacket (or any item) serve more than one purpose, that's always good! And one must learn to think outside the box!!!

This is what I purchased to play with. 

Black and white trim

I'm going to work on a red sweatshirt that has a large logo on the front. It will be a fun challenge to come up with something that's both fun and funky. I hope to start working on that this coming week as well. I still have to remove the sleeves to work on it. 

And that's how quickly I can get bogged down in a new project. I wasn't looking for a new project; I don't need one, but I now have one! But it'll be fun!!!! Plus, I plan to incorporate some sewing machine techniques into the mix. That way, I can wear it and use it as a sample! Yep --- I'm good with that. 

It will be a busy day today because after the two presentations this morning, which I believe will be short, it's back to the sewing machine. My SIL has some stuff that needs to be finished today, so I have to get her started on it. I also have some machine embroidery to get done. 

Have a super day!!! Stay warm - I don't relish the thought of walking the girls in the cold, but once you get out, it's not so bad. 

Ciao!!!!