A mixed bag.........................

Do you like going on vacation? I love going on vacation, but there are two things I hate about vacations. Getting ready to leave and dealing with the aftermath once you are home.

I don't mean packing for the trip - that is easy - I pretty much plan in my head what I need to pack, then 15 minutes of cramming and I am set. I don't fuss with lots of stuff.  I always take a small suitcase. The more stuff you take, the more you have to manage and that just is too complicated. I never do fancy stuff at home, so I never do fancy stuff away. Matter of fact, the other day I was meeting with the City and a vendor. They asked about dress - suits or business casual. ACK - I am not sure that I even have anything that qualifies as business casual so I wore jeans. So did the vendor!!!!   It was pretty funny, but we were all good.

Well - I am not going on vacation, but I am going on a retreat soon and that means there is a LOT of stuff to get finished and prepped before I leave. That is the part that I hate - the pressure to get everything done. The parting date becomes a forced deadline and I am NOT good with deadlines!!!!

I managed to get all the editing done on the photos in the camera - yeah!  But I need to take a ton more today so back to square one!

I was out and about last week and came across this.  I don't have time to show you what it is - any guesses????   It is very cute, colour appropriate and going to be very practical!  I can hardly wait to use it. Maybe later today, although I think there is rain in the forecast.

A mystery item

I have this super duper sewing table. The sewing machine is always ready to go and I have sewn on it for years. I have never had to adjust the height of the table, but I put the Ruby in there the other day and I needed to adjust the table height. Hmmmmmm - how does one do that????

See how much higher the sewing machine is from the table?    A bit hard to sew like that

This is the view underneath the shelf - ACK -  what do I touch or not touch????

 A couple of pictures and a phone call to the dealer and VOILA - the table height is easy to change.

Sewing machine in the bottom most position

I have a piece of wood that goes in that insert so technically I could have a big flat surface.


 The other day I was buzzing around the house and I thought - wow - I have already been up and down the stairs a LOT. This is my FitBit (I bought the new Charge a while back) telling me that I had taken 10 flights of stairs. I think this was before 6 AM.   That was just a crazy day!!!

10 flights of stairs!!!!

Should you be wanting to buy a FitBit here are a couple of points that you should be aware of.
1. The Charge (the one pictured above) is NOT generous with the steps like the original one. I think Mary mentioned that hers will not measure her steps if she has her hand on her grocery cart. It definitely does not measure steps in spin class like the original one did. So when you get that buzz at 10,000 steps you know you've had a great day!  Recently, I've had some days exceeding 15,000 steps. No wonder I have been exhausted at night!!!!
2. Watch the band size. I purchased the small/medium which was a big mistake. I would recommend (unless you have very skinny wrists) to buy the medium/large. When summer finally comes, I think I am going to find this size constricting!!!!

I do love it. Does it motivate me to walk more?  I don't think so, but it makes me think about what I am doing and I do check it a couple of times a day just to see how busy I have been.


The other day, I had some classes on free motion at my house. Look what Diane had in her sewing kit  ..............

The cutest little screw driver and it is orange to boot!!!!

 She thinks that she purchased it at Home Depot so I must make a trip to get one. I absolutely hate the small flat screw drivers that come with the lower end sewing machines. It is very hard to handle.

Pat, a hand quilter, was also in the free motion class. Love that she is trying!!!!  She brought some show n tell.

Made and hand quilted by Pat - love those colours!!!!

I think this was taken the morning of the free motion class. A typical mess. I am getting better - I really am. It used to be way worse. 

Joyce's bag - the body of the bag is finished. Now she has to finish off the top and make the handles. It looks crooked in the picture, but the darn photo is on a bit of an angle so it pronounces the slight angle in the piece!!!   Who cares - it is awesome!!!!   Great job Joyce!!!!   

Oh and here is a picture of that winner with her cheque and a prototype of her product!!!!  

And the winner is M!!!!!

On Tuesdays, I have started to go to the movies most weeks with Lynn. She picks the time and the movie and if the time works for me and I want to see that movie - I meet her at the theatre. I even have a Scene card now. Yesterday we were to meet at 4:55 to see Cinderella. I arrive at the theatre about 4:40.  No Lynn. I wait a bit, I buy my ticket, I go to the washroom. Still no Lynn. I noticed when I was buying my ticket that there was also a show at 4:25. I thought to myself - I bet she got the times mixed up. Oh well - let's go to the show. For some reason, I thought I heard the lady say theatre 24. And that stuck in my head - I even thought - oh that was the theatre we were in last week. I go in and my first clue should have been that the lights were out. But no - I foraged ahead and went up the stairs (thank goodness for lighted stairs) and sat down. I watched the screen for a couple of minutes and realized that this is NOT a trailer. Nope - I am in the wrong theatre!!!!

Back down the lighted stairs and check my ticket. Crap - theatre 20, not 24. I get in and the lights are still on. Of course!!!!   But no Lynn. So I am sitting there watching the pre-show stuff and next thing I know - Tish is there!!!   So we watched the movie together. Although there was a short cartoon about Frozen at the start of the movie and for a minute, I thought - are we in the right theatre????   I really enjoyed the movie - great costumes. And that wicked step mother - oh she was evil!!!!!

I seem to have a massive allergy problem this morning. Where the heck did that come from????  And I finally caved and went to the doctor last night. She said - "Oh I hardly ever see you - how come you are so healthy!!!!"   I told her I was a farm kid and ate a peck of dirt when I was young. She laughed. X-ray for the lump on my foot which is likely a cyst - but X-ray won't show that. Just checking that it isn't a problem with the bone. And the other issue is a pinched nerve (which I knew) - get a good physiotherapist.   I hate things that don't have a quick fix!!!!

Wow - that was a pretty eclectic day.


Anyway - have a great day today!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!

Applique!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes - there just doesn't seem to be an end to the show n tell these days!!!!!   So much - I can't keep up with it!!!!  Well if you want to see BRIGHT show n tell - this is it.  Last week we had our class on Stitcher's Garden from The Stitch Connection.

Stitcher's Garden by The Stitch Connection

It is a fun applique project completely done by machine.  It is a great class to learn various techniques on the sewing machine.  Different method of quilting the blocks, NUMEROUS stitches to finish off the edges of the applique, couching, circular attachment and way way more. All of it in a very friendly atmosphere!!!!

I think most of the class brought in ALL of their blocks - well not quite, but we saw a LOT of homework last week. This is a hands on class so everyone is bringing their sewing machine and getting to do the hands on right in class.

The class is held at Brampton Sew n Serge.  We will be running the class in the fall, but there will be fewer hours - so less instruction, but a bit cheaper. Call Brampton Sew n Serge to get your name on the list - there is only room for 8 participants.


These blocks belong to Judy and I just love the bright bright colours!!!!!!!!!!!

This next set of blocks belong to Lucy. Wow wow wow - again the awesome bright colours. But Lucy (and this is normal for her) always ups the game. She crocheted the "ribbon" that she couched down, she fussy cut flowers and other elements.  Very creative!!!!

This next set belongs to Pat.  Again the bright bright colours.  Everyone definitely went with a spring theme!!!!  They are awesome!!!!!

I hope I have't messed up the names, but I do believe these are Sheila's blocks. Trying to go from memory!  A bit softer palette, but the flowers are going to pop off that background. Going to be awesome and I love that little touch of colour in the couched thread in the first block.

This set belongs to Judy - again another set of BRIGHT BRIGHT blocks.  I love that funky fabric that she has used for the borders.   It is a shame that you can't see the actual quilting on the backgrounds because everyone has done a superb job of playing with the stitches!!!!

This set belongs to Diane.  Very soft yet those flowers are going to pop off the background.

These blocks belong to Louise.  Once again - BRIGHTS!!!!!!   Louise has used a pale green for the backgrounds and they look stunning!!!!!

So in addition to having a super quilt at the end of the class, these students are learning tons about their machines - the stitches, the attachments, and the feet!!!!  ALL of the techniques can be transferable to other projects and that is what learning is all about!!!!!!

Funny how we "think" we know everything about a subject. "I don't need to hear that speaker, watch that video, take that class". And why do we feel that? "Because we KNOW everything"!!!!   Oh that is so not true!!!!   I learned a couple of things the other day about basting quilts and I learned a few amazing tips on applique just this morning while I watched a video.  I shall share all of that with you in due time!!!!


Don't forget to call Brampton Sew n Serge if you are interested in the class. The class will likely take place on Wednesday evening - once a month.  I imagine the spaces will go quickly so reserve one today!!!!


On that note - I have an incredibly stupidly busy day and I had best get started at it!!!!

Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!

It's Monday - no wait that was last Monday!

The days are whizzing by so fast and there is so much going on - I am way behind on the pictures.
But I did shut everything down, bookmarked a LOT of stuff and closed the computer for a couple of hours. The darn thing near had a heart attack!!!  I haven't tried to edit more pictures, but I am sure it will be much faster.  I think they might still be 30 more pictures not including those already edited and waiting to be posted!

So these pictures are from LAST Monday. I am sure that I will be taking a lot more later today as this is a VERY prolific group!!!!

Maria was busy working on her mystery quilt. Everyone is pretty much up to date and God forbid that I forget to bring the next installment with me!!!!  

 The next two pictures are very hard to see, but so unique, I had to show you. Anita is going to be visiting the "Old Country" in a couple of weeks. She has family members in Wales and so she is making a small whole cloth quilt. She designed her own motifs based on Welsh designs - made one quarter of the quilt, then traced it four times. Now she is ready to quilt!!!!

Whole cloth quilt - marked

You can see the design a bit better. Can't wait to see this one quilted - it is going to be awesome!!!!

Judith was busy counting her yo-yos. She is making a bit quilt from them and it will be stunning!!!!

OK - so there is something happening at Monday (and Thursday). EVERYONE it seems has to make this little duffle bag!!!!

Diane made two 

Karen made one more

Claudette made this one

Karen made ANOTHER one!!!  I think she wins the prize for the most made. 

Fancy stitching on her handles!!!!

In case you are wondering about the progress in the bathroom - check it out!!!!!

The ladies room!

 And what did I work on???   Well - I haven't even finished processing all the stuff I brought home a couple of weeks ago!!!  So I worked on other stuff!

I managed to get that center seam done on all 80 blocks!!!!!

The second clue of the Quilts at the Creek Mystery - DONE!!!!

Started to do the string blocks for an old Bonnie Hunter mystery - Orca Bay!!!!

I know - most normal people would work on something until they were done. I have no idea why I can't do that. I try - I really do, but I am very good at doing that at retreats!!!!   But you see - I needed some scraps of red to work on the Quilts at the Creek mystery. So then I had to go through the basket for the Orca Bay and since it was out - it just seemed natural that I work on it!

Last week on garbage day - it was crazy windy. So can you tell me why people insist on putting their garbage (recycling) out????   If it is going to blow like mad - why not wait until the following week or put something on top of it.  The problem is that on our street - all the loose garbage blows down the street to our end and it is a huge mess. These two pictures don't look that bad, but it is a mess!!!!

Recycling blowing in the wind!!!!

 

More recylcing

 And it is NOT my recycling as I often just leave it in the garage until the following week if it is windy.  I can't wait for those big carts to come along. Hopefully that will solve the problem??  


Last week we had embroidery club and there was a bit of show and tell. Linda made this great Chubby Charmer bag from blocks made with selvedges. Do you see a theme happening???  Yep - we are all taking little bits and sewing them together - string quilts!!!!   I love it!!!!

Linda's Chubby Charmer!!!!  (it is flattened out here!)

Making progress on my Christmas ornaments!!!!   Four are completely done and the remaining four are about half done!

I had to move the shelf in my sewing cabinet. I had no idea how to do that. I have tried before and could NOT figure it out. I sent pictures to the dealer so he could guide me in what to do (even though he sold it to me, so of course, he knew what was under the shelf).  Turns out - I just had to pull out a little knob and push HARD and the shelf went down. Then a wrench to loosen the screw - then move the shelf, tighten it back up and now the shelf is the EXACT height that I need it to be!!!!!   Hmmm - I've only sewn on that table for a few years!!!!

I may be slow, but I do get there eventually!!!!

Adjusting the sewing table height!!!

On that note - I am out of here. Got lots of work done over the weekend - more pictures to share. Perhaps I will get a few more edited and ready to post.

Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!