Don't tell me that computerized machines do not provide quality craftmanship!

It was a rainy day in Winnipeg. I didn't go for a walk because I had to pack, and since I didn't sleep well, I decided to take a nap before the day actually started. How crazy is that? 

And now I'm writing late at night because I have an early-morning flight and likely won't have time to write in the morning. EDIT: I wrote the blog last night and am editing this morning. 

This was the condition of the room when I left near noon to go to Carellen's Sewing Center. I had one suitcase mostly packed and most of the stuff off the beds. So that was good. EDIT: Just had a shower and everything is now packed, except for the computer. Then I'm off. 

The packing process

I wonder if, after any major quilt show, the X-ray people at the airport question these "things" in suitcases. There are many spools of thread in one of the suitcases. While these are loose spools of thread, there are two boxes of thread in another suitcase! 

A pile of threads in one of my three suitcases

We had a great time yesterday and saw a lot of inspiration for quilting with your embroidery machine. There is so much to share, and I get so inspired myself that I can't wait to get home and get to work. There is so much to do!!!! I have a load of samples I want to make, and I need to make a list of the things I need/want to make, as well as the things I need/want to learn. 

And it was great to see Brenda. Brenda is part of my machine embroidery club, and it's nice to see the people in person! 

OH my -- I should tell you what happened at breakfast yesterday. I was sitting at a table, minding my own business, when I noticed four women nearby talking about Quilt Canada. One woman seemed to be dominating the conversation. I tried not to listen, but how could I help myself? 

She was lamenting that so many of the quilts in the show were NOT hand-made, and that her quilt, which she had spent over 5 hours hand-embroidering a small section, was NOT accepted into the show. Then she told the others that these machines have no craftsmanship in their end result, and all the makers do is push a button and walk away. 

I think she was in particular talking about the jacket that won first prize, I think. It was beautiful and machine-embroidered on silk. It would have taken weeks/months to do all the satin stitching by hand. I have a picture somewhere. 

OK -- so I couldn't help myself. I had finished my breakfast, and I walked over to chat with them. I identified myself as someone who works with computerized machines, and I politely gave them a wee lesson: people with computerized machines still need to worry about the impact of what they have done, which involves choosing the design, fabrics, and threads. We also need to be skilled at using the computerized machine. It needs to be set, we need to know how it works and how to solve the problems, and a whole lot more. WE do NOT just push a button and walk away. 

I don't think she was too impressed. I was very polite. She then started to talk about how she teaches children to sew. So I piped up that if she was doing that, why didn't she sponsor children in her groups to participate in the Youth Challenge at the show? OH -- she didn't know what to say to that. But then she agreed that it might be a good idea. 

I then suggested that she write an article or contact CQA to see if they would be interested in publishing one on what she is doing in her community. It's not about embarrassing these kinds of people or making fun of them. Just ask them why they aren't making a bigger impact!!!! That's partly because they live in small bubbles and are not exposed to other things! 

I didn't stay too long to chat, but enough to make them think. However, I think she was the kind of person who would continue to complain about the computerized machines simply because her handwork quilt didn't get in. 

People do NOT get it that submitting your quilt to any show, even with exquisite handwork, doesn't guarantee that it will get in. What other quilts is it competing with? Just because you do exquisite handwork doesn't mean the overall impact is desirable, and there are so many other factors.  And each person's definition of exquisite handwork may not meet the judges' standards. 

And people, the rejection letter they send is NOT directed to you. It's a canned letter - it has no reflection on your work. She was quite offended by the letter. And let's face it - if your pictures are crap, that is all the judges see, and your quilt won't get in. 

So many factors—you can be disappointed, but you can't criticize. 

But to complain so publicly about it and to put down the computerized machines -- well, that was too much to let slip past! BUT I was as polite as could be, praised her for what she was doing in her community, and encouraged her to do more! I am not a mean person. Just like to set the record straight and stand up for us techies. 

Later in the day, I ran into someone who complained about the show's layout. People—the show coordinators are at the mercy of the space they have been given. Some shows are big, some shows are small. I don't know if the number of quits was the same as in past shows, but it's amazing how people remember shows differently. Oh, when the show was in "city X," there were so many more quilts. It was better laid out, it was bigger/smaller or whatever. I wish I were better at remembering statistics (which I don't even know myself),  so I could prove a point to people. 

And it is a show—there will be lots of people; the booths are small; it is all about MONEY!!!! If you have accessibility issues, then DO NOT go during the busy times. I do not know how many times I need to repeat that -- go when the crowds are lesser (later in the day). Don't go when it's crowded and then complain! I'm not sure I could handle being a coordinator of the show -- the complaints would drive me mad. 

But the one issue with the facility was the stairs between floors 2 and 3. There was a slow elevator and one escalator that went up or down beside that set of stairs. I believe they had to swap the convention hall at the last minute due to an issue, and I'm not sure if the stair issue was the same on the other side of the hall. I don't know the details of that, but I do know that we were NOT in the hall that we were supposed to be in. 

For someone with mobility issues, taking the stairs either up or down could be quite the issue, or they had to wait for the slow elevator. Thankfully, I am very mobile, so I took the stairs up and down all the time. My knee wasn't always happy, but I told it to be quiet - I was in a hurry! 

The previous day in class, we were talking about donut shapes, and well, on the way to Tim's, guess what? I spotted this donut place and decided to stop in on my way back. 

OH Doughnuts!!!

I ordered from Tim's kiosk because the line was long. Then I was fiddling with my phone when I realized the line was gone, and I still didn't have food. One of the staff asked me what I was waiting for, and I said I had ordered at the kiosk. OH -- turns out my food had been waiting at the other end of the restaurant. Sigh............  I might get all this stuff sorted out at some point. They shout out the in-house orders to the customers, but not the orders in the pickup line. The kiosk qualifies as a pickup line. 

Ordering at the kiosk

So, on the way back to the hotel, I stopped by the donut place. OH MY!!!!! And yes, I had my cup of tea and several Tim's bags in my hands. Good grief. 

But look at those donuts!!!! OH MY -- they looked amazing. 

OH Doughnuts is right!

I bought the key lime donut, and let's say they weren't cheap, and I'm sure there were two days' worth of calories in each one. The lady asked me if I wanted a bag to put all my things in, and I said yes, because I had a lot of small bags from Tims.  

The donut was so thick I could barely get it into my mouth, and at one point, I had key lime pie cream on my chin and whipped cream on my nose. Thankfully, no pictures were taken at that time. 

Now that's a donut!!!

But oh my—it was delicious and well worth it. Not as good as if I had ridden my bike to the shop, but at least I walked there. 

I forgot to mention that after breakfast, I told the lady at reception that we had some excitement in the hotel earlier that morning. She apologized and then asked what room I was in. Later in the day, I got a text, and they gave me a slight discount on one night's rate. That was a very nice gesture, and it pays to talk to people!!! 

I'm back at the hotel, and I have everything more or less packed in the suitcases. I will have to carry a tote bag on the plane in addition to my backpack. Thank goodness for airline status, which allows for three 70-pound suitcases. Having access to the lounge? Useless for me. 

Hopefully, there will be no issues, such as flat tires on the plane, and I'll catch you when I get home!!! I can't wait!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

What is this technique - mystery solved!

Oh dear -- I'm not sure what happened to that link for the classes, but I reset it in yesterday's post just in case I didn't get the correct one. And here it is again. The post is from June 18, so if that link doesn't work, you can go back and search for it. I have a lot of work to do when I'm home, and I didn't get much done yesterday morning except prep things for the afternoon and evening. 

OH MY—we have a hotel situation this morning. There is someone out in the hallway, and they don't sound too happy. I did not open my door, but she sounds inebriated and perhaps locked out of her room. Not sure what the issue is, but she doesn't sound happy. I finally called the front desk and security, and the police are on the way. Never a dull moment! Actually, this hotel has been pretty quiet throughout the stay, and things happen. Thankfully, I was awake when it started. 

Oh shoot --- she stopped, and now she's back at it! EDIT -- all has been quiet for quite some time now. 

Anyway -- I got totally sidetracked in videos on Facebook, and well, it's just one of those days. 

So I'm going to ask for your help. This was a quilt at Quilt Canada. It's quite impressive  - the base photo is all thread-painted. EDIT --- go to the end to see the mystery solved! 

Front view

View from the right

View from the left

The artist's statement

It won a prize - a judge's choice, if I remember correctly. However, it has sort of taken the show by storm, and I realized this morning while searching that the quilt won Viewer's Choice, but I'm a bit miffed about the piece. Why? Because if you read the credits on the statement, it says she used a technique that she saw at the Houston show 13 years ago. While this is likely correct, a book has been published on this technique. And I think that the book author's name should have been included in the credits. 

The big question is, who was that author? I can picture the book cover in my head, but I can't read the author's name. I'm not sure if I have the book—I might, but I don't remember seeing it when I went through my books a couple of months ago. Trust me, I have tried Googling everything I can think of to find the book, but I'm stuck. 

So—my question to you is: does anyone have that book, and remember who the author was? I think the credit needs to be attached to this quilt. I'm surprised the judge chose the piece when proper credit was not given to it. That should be a given when a quilt wins an award. It's also the problem with stuff that happened years ago. People think things are NEW and inventive when they are not—it's been done before. And yes—this artist did say she saw the technique 13 years ago, so if people read it, they should know it's not new. 

Well, I keep getting distracted. 

This is one of the books I bought at the bookstore the other day. I know—I am not a fan of things that need to be done every day. But it's all about gratitude, which I don't think we spend enough time on, and there are puzzles for every day. Very simple ones, so maybe it will be a good diversion, which I haven't even opened this morning. 

My new gratitude puzzle journal

Yesterday's puzzle was a word search, which took about 5 minutes to complete. And there was a page to write down a few things. Sometimes, it's good to write things down - prompts for things you want to keep in mind, prompts for things you want to change. And there was a place to write one large goal for the month. 

I'm happy to share that goal; it's for July. It's all about getting my long arm up and running properly. While it has no issues with quilting, it does need a good spa day. The old leaders (20 years) need to come off, the rails cleaned, the magnets sewn into the new leaders, and then attached to the bars. I also need a new brake, which I must order today. Then I should consider putting all the screws back on the housing, since it seems the electronics are working fine. The design files need to be organized on the computer into a more manageable file structure. And I need to learn/practice that one technique. So it will be a busy month to get all that done, but when it's done? It'll be like a new machine. OH - and new clamps on the sides. 

That is my goal for the month, and I already have a date planned on July 1 when someone is coming to help me put on the new leaders. It'll be easier for two people because of the leader's length. Once we are done, then we zip to her house and install her new leaders! 

I saw this at Tim's yesterday. Yep—a small change can have a big impact. I don't get why people grab handfuls of napkins - one should usually suffice unless you are a very messy eater. And that's another mystery in life - why are some people prone to messy eating and others are not? Is it because they eat messy foods? Not paying attention? I am NOT a messy eater, but why? 

How many napkins do you really need? 

I don't have many shirts that require ironing before wearing, but I have this one, which I really like, and I should wear it more often. It's made from quilting cotton, and I find that after years of wearing knit shirts, wearing a solid cotton shirt is very restrictive. But the pattern for this shirt is amazing. It has a lot of darts in the sleeves and the front, not just one, and there are two darts in the back, and it fits like a glove. I should make a few more in different fabrics. I must dig that pattern out. It's super comfortable for a cotton shirt. I also have an orange one just like it. 

I love this shirt and should wear it more often.

Speaking of orange, this was the view from my room when I first woke up!!! WOW --- look at that color!!! It's spectacular. There was a bit of rain this morning, but I think it's going to be another nice day. 

The sky this morning

 

So my experience with Uber is typically getting to and from the airport. Since I wasn't able to rent a car, I decided to take Uber. It felt weird to go to a location other than the airport, but it's super slick and costs a lot less than renting a car that would have sat most of the day. Then, when I came back to the hotel last night, I had Uber pick me up. Because all the financial transactions take place within the app, you never need to worry about paying a driver and then figuring out a tip and whatever. You stop and immediately get out of the car. I LOVE it. 

I had to laugh last night because I had some tough attendees in the session on the digital cutter. Loads and loads of questions, and I suspect that one person had ADHD, and it showed! I was exhausted. However, I am shocked/surprised at the number of older people (people my age and older) who are into AI. If you don't know something, just ask ChatGPT. They might not be able to say ChatGPT, but they know how to use it. 

But don't use it when I'm talking. Anyway, their kids must have pushed that on them. And while I'm OK with people using it, I'm not a fan of using it for everything. Typing in a search engine works just fine as well. And it's a lot less intrusive in a class. 

Trust me -- I have tried searching for the author of the technique mentioned above, but I can't find them. 

SQUIRREL --- I was determined to find the darn information. Instead of trying to find it with words, I posted a picture, and VOILA—Google came through, and here is the link to the "original" author. I don't know if Flora is actually the first person to use this technique in a quilt, but she is the first place I saw it. Her first art quilt (in a show) using this technique was in 2014, and the book was published in 2015 by the American Quilters Society. Here is a link with her information. The quilts are stunning!!!

Trispective 3-in1 quilt book

OK, I can relax now -- I solved the mystery, and 13 years ago is not that long ago, but no one knew that this technique had been done previously and so famously!!!! The people who commented on Facebook had no clue. Flora Joy is a very inventive quilt maker. Her stuff is mostly 3-D and very cleverly constructed. 

I think that credit on that piece is NOT complete, and I don't care how good it is --- credit should have been given to the proper person. I have done that -- I posted the link and Flora's name on the pictures on Facebook. I used this current artist's photo to find the original - it took mere seconds to find that information (once I thought of searching by photo). The current artist should have done the same. 

The quilt at Quilt Canada also won the Viewer's Choice award - I didn't know that until I did my research. 

On that note, I can rest! I love a good mystery. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

NOTE: I am flying out early tomorrow morning, so there may or may not be a blog. 

I'm a jinx!

So much for a free day! I left the hotel at 9 AM, and I didn't get back until after 8 PM. Considering I didn't have a car at my disposal, that was a pretty full day! 

First, though, if anyone wants to see the classes I am offering, I have listed them in this blog post. I was going to do some work on the dates and so on yesterday, but I didn't have time. At least you will know what I am teaching - you just don't know specific dates yet. I might throw in a few short (one- or two-session) classes, such as a session on the Trendtex challenge kit, for anyone who is interested. And I might be doing something with that batting I get my hands on next month, but those will be short and mostly for informational purposes, not a new project. 

Feel free to purchase the patterns if you wish, but I am going to explain more and show you more pictures of the wool applique kits, and I'm still working out options, so you could get some thread for the kit. If you have a kit already or bought one at the show, no big deal. That is the class with the most options. There are kits by Sue Spargo and Wendy Williams, and I can't find the Wendy Williams kits online. There is no rush to buy anything, as classes will not start until September. 

I decided to go for a walk to start the day. It was beautiful, and I almost wished I had worn shorts, but given what happened, I was glad I did not. 

I passed by more artwork. This was a huge set of marbles in a park. I guess I should have walked closer to them to get a picture. I can't seem to find a way to crop pictures on this silly laptop, so I'll have to figure that out at some point. But those large marbles were as shiny as any marble you would hold in your hand. 

Giant marbles in a park

Then I thought I would check for any Adventure Lab artwork, and this is what I spotted along the way. You really can't see the artwork, and sadly, some of the paint is peeling. It was painted in 2015 and depicts the boat people who came from Vietnam. The mural depicts one of the men who came to Canada as a refugee. And it is painted on a building that this man owns. 

A mural

I took the most direct way to my destination, not the prettiest. So I mostly walked along major streets, but I'm sure there was a prettier way to get to my first destination. 

There was a power line corridor that had no houses. However, there were garden plots for rent in that area, and what a great use of the land. 

Garden plots for rent

And after an hour walk (equivalent to walking the girls), I arrived at my destination. The McNally Robinson bookstore - the original one. No quilts are hanging up as there are in the Saskatoon store. As an independent bookstore, this one is amazing!! I could walk around for hours. I notice there are NO places to sit. Sadly, those spots have been abused over the years, and they are gone. But that's OK. 

McNally Robinson bookstore

But I wandered around and spotted so much good stuff. Sdly, I don't have a lot of room in my suitcase. I spotted this GAMES magazine in the magazine section. This magazine had been around for a very long time, as I was introduced to it in my late teens. It used to feature articles about games and game events, but now it's just a magazine with puzzles. I did not buy it. I don't think I have any of the old issues still around, but the masthead is very similar to the original! 

The GAMES magazine is still around!

OH MY—you can find anything and everything online. The first issue was released in Sept/Oct 1977. Check it out here, and I remember that first masthead!!!! 

There is the craft section, which has been greatly reduced over the years. But the way we get our information in the craft world has greatly changed. I did pick up one magazine that is hard to find at home. 

The hobby/craft section

And then I got a phone call from my friend I was going to meet, and she said she'd come to the bookstore, so I browsed around some more while I waited for her. Oh my --- the puzzles. There were two big shelves of puzzles - I think the other store has more, but there were so many new brands I had never seen before, and it was like being a kid in a candy store. I can't wait to get home and finish the one on my table. 

Part of the puzzle section

OK -- so I bought a puzzle! Let's just say that it's going to take some creative packing to get all this stuff in my suitcases. Or as I mentioned yesterday, I might just have to take a tote bag on the plane with me. I'm good either way. At least, I don't have to worry about the weight in my suitcase - 70 pounds times three is my included limit. That is way more important to me than having access to the lounge. 

While I was looking through everything, I spotted this in the games section. 

Threaded, the game

This is a brand-new game, and it's all about choosing patterns and thread to create bargello embroidery. I don't really understand how it works, and it's hard to see from the boxes, but you can learn more on their website.  Actually, when you read the description, it's pretty funny because it's based on how we work! Wait for a sale and hope it's still there, or pay more and get it now!

The back of the box

And I got a chuckle from this sign. Isn't that like us quilters? Why buy one fat quarter when you can buy the bundle!

Then my friend (Jeannette) showed up. Jeanette and I were in Katimavik together - almost 50 years ago! I have seen her on and off over those 50 years, and we have communicated a lot via text and Facebook. We had lunch together at the bookstore and chatted for hours. Then we needed to get moving - I was surprised that they didn't kick us out, but there was always at least one empty table in the restaurant, so we were good. 

Then she drove me to see her cute house in Winnipeg. She met her first husband in Katimavik and, sadly, after they had four children, he got sick and passed away. She married another friend later in life, and sadly, he is gone as well. So she now has this cute house in Winnipeg that is hers! 

Then we got in the car and drove outside Winnipeg to visit my Katimavik roommate from 50 years ago! Carol and I were roommates in Esquimalt (Victoria, BC). We have many memories together in that room! Carol and Jeannette both came from London, Ontario, and it's funny that they both ended up in Winnipeg. 

I have a picture to share, but I will wait until I get home. But Carol's husband, who Jeanette knows from London, is into medieval things in a big way, and he made these rattles for their new grandchild, who is arriving sometime soon. Many conversations were happening, and I couldn't keep them all straight. 

3-D printed sword rattles

They are not sharp and have beads inside, so they are true rattles. He made them on his 3-D printer. Apparently, you can find this design on Thingiverse.com. 

Sadly, we couldn't stay too long, but it was getting late in the day anyway. Jeannette had to pick up her daughter at the airport, and I was off to visit with my nephew. She dropped me off, and then Devin and I hopped in his Tesla and drove out to a different airport. We were going for a plane ride in his plane!

However, when we arrived at the hangar where he stores his plane, the darn thing had a flat tire, so we couldn't go!!!! How disappointing. This is the plane that my Dad went for a ride over the farm last month, with Devin as the pilot! 

My nephew's plane

While I was disappointed, it was OK. I'll just have to arrange to come back, or, as he needs to gather hours, he can fly to Ontario. 

It was funny because when my friend wanted to show me her new self-driving Tesla, the FSD mode wasn't working that day, so she had to drive the car herself. Then, just as Devin is about to take me for a ride in his plane, a tire goes flat. Hmmm --- what will be next? 

I have a free morning today, and then I'm off to Carellen Sewing Center to chat about our 24" Singer Momento digital cutter. There are two sessions -- one at 1 PM and one at 6 PM. So be sure to come out and see how it works, check out the samples, and learn all the fun things you can do with it. 

I'll be getting things organized this morning, so I may take a short walk, and then I'm going to Uber it to the store. It's going to be way cheaper to do that than rent a car. It's not that far away, but trudging a suitcase behind me? That's not going to happen. 

Then tomorrow is all about quilting with your embroidery machine, which will be fun as well. 

By the time my nephew dropped me off last night, it was after 8 PM, and we hadn't even gone for a flight. It was a long day! But it was fun to catch up with everyone. I'm now on my own for the remainder of this trip, but I don't have much free time either. 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Bidding wars at the Trend-tex challenge

And that's a wrap for Quilt Canada 2026. It's amazing how surreal the show always seems. One minute everything is fine, and all the quilts are hung, and the booths are busy, and then the show ends, and it's a crazy place as people start packing! As usual, I didn't get much time to walk the show or look at the vendors, but I did get some pictures to share with my Monday Sewing group and checked out a few vendors. The big issue now will be fitting everything into my suitcases to get home. 

Unusual for me, but I brought way too many clothes, and I typically use that suitcase for extra room! I'm sure I will manage, as I can take my backpack on the plane and a tote bag to carry a few things. The three suitcases can be checked. I'm not worried - I will get everything home. 

The day wasn't going to start well as I walked to Tim's by the convention center, only to find it wasn't open. It may have opened later in the day, but I had to get to the classroom when the class started, and I had no time to walk to the next Tim's. Two ladies from the Madeira thread booth, whom I had met the previous day while buying thread, arrived at the same time and were also dismayed to find the location closed. 

They had time to leisurely stroll to the next location and offered to get me a tea. Bless their hearts, and they brought the tea to me in the classroom. Thank you so much, Madeira thread ladies!!! I had bought a lot of thread from them, and we had a grand time choosing it. So it pays to make friends at the show. And now I need to pay that favor forward. Who will be the recipient?

My tea was personally delivered to me. 

Quiltsource was at the show, introducing a new batting called Mathilda's Own. Some very interesting new batting choices, and I can't wait to try them. These battings will be available in stores in mid-July. 

They had a super cute quilt to display the various battings. 

A super way to display different types of batting

Isn't that adorable? At first, I didn't get it, but each sheep is made from a different batting, and because the edge is free, you get to touch and feel the batting. A very clever concept for sure. Each sheep wore a differently colored ribbon. The legend of the colored ribbons was available on a separate card and identified the batting types.  

The  sheep 

One more batting type

And this was the sign near the sheep. YES, a quilt that you could actually touch!

A quilt you can touch!

Well, I am super excited because I'm going to get the battings and make up some new samples to see how this batting reacts to prewashing (or not), test stitch density, and then wash the pieces after the quilting is done. I can see this as a class! STOP IT RIGHT THERE. Do not think I am unnecessarily adding a class to my workload; this kind of class is extremely beneficial to YOU!!! And also to me! Imagine having gone through this exercise and now having a very good idea of what type of batting you want for any particular project. 

What does wool batting feel like? How does it react differently from a 100% cotton batting? This is the kind of stuff that makes me giddy, and I may just make it a lecture/demo series, an online Zoom class, or an in-person class. I think there is a lot of potential in this. Years ago, I did something similar with 10 different types of batting, each with 5 samples. I still have those samples, and it was a very interesting exercise. 

So if you think I just know this stuff, I don't. I love to experiment and test, and that's how I gain my knowledge. 

Now I have to sit down and figure out how I will use the batting in my sample making and make it a teachable class at the same time. I can't wait!!!

I have two classes this coming weekend, and I have been working on one of the presentations. I have also been collecting data for the classes in the fall, and I hope to get a lot more work done today since I have a free day. I have two places I would like to get to, and I have a friend and a nephew who live here. So it's going to be a busy day! 

And I wasn't able to rent a car today. I had thought about it all week but just never got around to it, so there are no cars, at least at the airport. I can rent from another location, but I checked Uber's price, and it's actually the same as renting a car to get where I need to go, so I'm not going to bother renting. It all works out. 

So yes—here is me ironing my shirt yesterday—just in case you think I don't ever do that! 

Ironing my shirt

I am staying at this same hotel for the duration of my stay, which includes those lectures/demos at Carellen, so I don't have to move hotels. The rest of my group is leaving today at various times. While I would be excited to go home today, I am happy to stay and visit, and it's always exciting to demo my samples and talk about techniques. 

I am a pretty neat traveler, and I am notorious for having everything tidied away whenever I leave the room. I am not sure what happened this trip, but it's like my suitcases exploded and I never got anything put away. My sample suitcases aren't even open right now, which means it's going to get worse!!!! And I do NOT require the staff to come in and tidy my room. That's just weird. 

An explosion in my room

Later today, I will have to start sorting the samples into what I need tomorrow for the Singer Momento sessions. That's the 24" digital cutter, and then what I will end on Tuesday, which is the quilting with your embroidery machine. 

Wait --- those batting samples? They will be very useful for quilting with your embroidery machine. I don't have any of the batting with me, as it's being delivered later this month or early next month, but I'm super excited to use it when quilting with the embroidery machine! 

My job at this show ended up being to look after the classrooms, and it worked for me. I packed up a lot of sewing machines yesterday, and I got really fast at it, but there were so many details to think about. Factory reset, bobbins, accessories, power cords, etc. It all takes time. I was wearing a scarf and my name badge, and I soon took both of those off to make it cooler and easier to work. 

When I finally left the room, I put them back on and went to help my colleagues pack up the booth. 

There was stuff everywhere, and my samples were in a neat pile, and eventually, I got them into my suitcase. It was only when we were close to the hotel that I realized my scarf was missing, as was my name badge, which held my room key. CRAP!!!!! Where the heck did I put it? I was certain I had shoved them in one of my bags, but I checked, and there was no scarf and no room key. I LOVE that hand-dyed green scarf. I couldn't have cared less about the key - that was easy to replace. 

I went back to the convention center to see if I could find it, but I did not, so I left a note with the security desk. 

WAIT -- let's go back to the show. Remebmer I mentioned the Trendtex Challenge? Well, I was bidding on two pieces. The online auction is great, although I still like the action of an in-person auction where you can see your opponent! There were 53 pieces up for auction, and some of them got only one or two bids, with no bidding war. But I got a notification that one of the pieces I wanted was also desired by someone else. 

Hmmm --- who was going to bail on the price first? I was determined to get it. So I outbid the other person. The bidding ended at 2:00 PM, and I was helping a customer at our booth. Just before 2 PM, I felt my phone go off, and I thought the other person had outbid me. But I could NOT check what had happened, and I thought, well, she waited until the last possible moment and then outbid me. However, when the customer left the booth, and I checked, I won that piece as well as one more. I did not take pictures, but I will take them today and share them with you. 

Someone bad home also won two pieces and asked me to pick them up for her. Yes, I could, but she needed to pay for them. That seemed to be taking forever, and I left the convention center without her pieces. It was only when I had to go back to look for my scarf that I was able to finally pick up her pieces. 

So then we sat at dinner, and while we were chatting, my brain was working and BAM -- I knew exactly where my scarf was. I had shoved in a bag, but then I tucked those bags (of thread from Wonderfil - I couldn't help myself) into my suitcase. 

And sure enough, when I was finally ready to go to my room, I opened the suitcase in the lobby where I had left it with the front desk. 

Checking the contents of my bag in the hotel lobby

And voilà—there was my scarf and my name tag with the room key in it!!! 

There's the missing key.

See how our brains kick in when we need them to? As mentioned, the room key was replaceable, the scarf was not. 

And I don't know why I keep forgetting to bring any business cards when I travel. I'm a dolt - I have a ton of them at home, and I just never bring them. I must put that on a list somewhere. Or perhaps I just keep a small supply in my office backpack - that would be the best place. Then I always have them, and they are not that heavy to carry around. 

When I got back to my room, I unpacked my pants pockets of things I had accumulated during the day. Spools of thread, scissors, and business cards from others. 

My finds of the day

I set a goal for myself this summer to learn how to use a specific feature on my computerized long arm. A dealer was at the show, and I wandered over yesterday and asked a few questions. Well, Jenny was a wealth of information. I can't wait to get home and get those new leaders on my machine - she showed me the simplest, ingenious way to make that happen and to get to work on some quilts that require this new feature I want to use. I am so excited. And then I have preparations for the new classes, and so much more. WAIT --- including trying out my new thread purchases. I can hardly wait!!!!

BUT -- I am only home for a couple of days when I am back on the road again! But it's only by car and only for three days, so that's good. Then I think I am home for a couple of weeks before I take off again. Yes -- it's a crazy world. 

Both places I want to visit today are well within walking distance, so I think I'll head out if I don't hear from my friend. I also have some work to do, so it'll be a full day. 

On that note, I'm super excited about my day off and to explore the city or visit or - well, you never know what will happen!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

I'm here to make people happy!

YES --- The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is definitely a must-see -- I spent quite a bit of time there a couple of years ago. I talked about it in this blog post. The experience was humbling, and I have some time on Sunday, so I may go and check it out again. The displays change, but the subject matter does not. Sadly, human rights are not equal among genders, races, statuses, and many other factors. We must learn from the past and move forward, but will it ever be equal for everyone? We can only hope. 

All I ask of anyone is respect! It doesn't matter the situation - it matters just to respect each other and any other living creature in our world. Respecting each other can change the world. 

A smile, a thank you, or an acknowledgment can go a very long way!! 

But onto Quilt Canada and what happened yesterday. By the way, there is no new artwork today. 

I was mostly in the classroom again yesterday. The classrooms are on the first floor, and the exhibit hall is on the third. There is one elevator, which is slow, and one escalator that runs up in the morning and down later in the day. 

I suspect because it's easier for me to move around quickly, that I got assigned this task, but you know what? I'm perfectly happy to be going up and down as needed. And it's fun to make sure that everyone is having a great experience with the machines in the class. 

This is one set of two staircases between the three floors. There are escalators for this particular set of stairs, but only one on the second set. 

How many times did I go up and down these stairs? 

I happily took many steps throughout the day, and once I got people going, I made it back to the booth and spotted some people I knew. It's so great to catch up and see people in person. 

Remember that big white box I was moving from the hotel to the convention center? Well, what is in that box? 

It is the NEW PFAFF creative icon 3. It will be officially released in the fall of 2026. So this is not quite a fully functioning machine yet. Yep -- software is an important component of any new sewing and embroidery machine, regardless of what brand you look at. New features and benefits are about to be released. I do NOT have all the details, or I would share them with you. 

PFAFF creative icon 3

As the classroom person, I was able to listen in to what the teacher was teaching, and oh my -- I see another fun project. So many great ideas and there is just not enough time! But I learned of another great little restaurant near the convention center. When the class and I arrived, there was practically no one in the restaurant. They served a great corned beef sandwich - it was fast, and the food was good! 

From the coverage on the wall, it looks like it's been there a long time. 

Oscar's deli

So yes—getting out and exploring the city, even with little time on your hands, you never know what you are going to find. 

Remember the quote on my bed—"Your world will expand with every step you take outside your comfort zone." Not only that, but if I were to eat at the convention center, I would most likely run into someone I know, and then I would be yakking. Not that I mind—trust me, I love to chat and visit —but it slows me down when I'm on a schedule. 

I had the wonderful job of packing up the sewing machines in one of our classrooms. The class wasn't full, and there is no class in that room today. So I boxed up 21 machines. Once you get into a rhythm, it goes quickly.

However, when I was putting the machines into the boxes, I forgot to include the bobbin we removed from the machine. Don't worry - the class got a different bobbin to use in class. 

And all was going very well. I was making great time. Once the class finished, I had the last 6 machines to box up. And to insert that missing bobbin into the boxes I had packed in the morning. When I was done, I had ONE bobbin left over. Are you kidding me? 

One bobbin left over.

Those machines will be sold to customers, and no one wants to be shortchanged a bobbin. The big question now is which box the bobbin belonged to. 

Which of these boxes is missing a bobbin?

So I used logic to figure out which one. I know - that sounds absolutely absurd, but some of the boxes had been packed earlier in the day, and I was certain that all of those had the extra bobbin inserted in the box and that it had to be one of the six that I had just packed. Hmmmm --- which one of the six should I open first? 

Hmmm --- I bet it is the last one I boxed because I wasn't paying attention at the time, as I was listening to the instructor as she packed up the last of her things. I pulled out that last box and reached into the machine to feel in the bobbin case for a bobbin, and there was NO BOBBIN. Eureka!!!! Logic and common sense prevailed, and I quickly found a home for that remaining bobbin!!!

The first box I pulled was the right one!

Here is the information for my upcoming class at Carellen Sewing Center. I will be at the store on Monday, June 22, from 1 to 4 or 6 to 9. There is limited seating for the event, so make sure you get your name on the list. 

Quilting with a digital cutter

While the Singer Momento 24" digital cutter will cut many products, like paper, vinyl, and cardstock, the focus of these demos will be on fabric. See what it can do to make life easier for you if you are hand piecing, into English Paper Piecing, or just for making it easy to cut your shapes for quilting and your applique. Do you need to back your fabric, and if so, how? So many questions will be answered in the demo. Be sure to get yourself on that list. 

And then on Tuesday, Carellen will be hosting me as I do two demos on quilting with your embroidery machine. Those will be amazing as well, and I have loads of samples in my suitcase here at the hotel. So you can't say you saw everything at the show because the samples aren't there! There will be loads of great ideas, so if you have an embroidery machine and don't know how to maximize it for quilting, be sure to sign up!!!

By the way, I will be doing similar demos at Sticharie in Petrolia, Ontario, next week. I will find that information - I don't have it handy, but if you want more information, contact the store. There is some cool new stuff that makes embroidery and quilting come together!!! 

It was challenging to find a spot last night for a large group to eat, so we ended up at a pub near the convention center. It was quiet for a Friday night, but I'm sure our group made up for it in spades. 

And we got to play music bingo. Oh my!! 

Music bingo

There were some great songs with loads of memories, plus a new song or two I wasn't familiar with. And we won two pitchers of beer, which was hilarious since almost no one at the table drinks beer. But we managed to get rid of some of it! 

One of our pitchers of beer

I am not really a big drinker anymore. If I'm going to have sugar calories, I want them from chocolate! 

Then a couple of us left to get some shuteye, though I did NOT fall asleep until hours later. I have classes next weekend, and I have a lot of work to prep for them. I made great progress last night. But when we exited the restaurant, it was pouring rain. I took a picture of the three of us and shared it with our group. I won't post it, but needless to say, we looked like three drowned rats when we arrived at the hotel, which was only a short distance away! My thick flannel shirt was soaked, but it's dry this morning. 

I did manage to do some damage yesterday, and with the help of one of my colleagues, I did some thread shopping. These are Madeira threads, which I haven't worked with much. So these are 30-weight cotton threads. 

Thirty-weight cotton threads

The front of the box

And I bought a few spools of other threads as well; there are still others you did not see. 

More exciting thread

I did pick up a few other spools of thread, and you'll just have to wait to see them when I get home and get a chance to use them. 

I also bought something else that I had already researched at home. I just needed to pick it up along with a few other supplies. I'm excited to try it out, and I can now finish one of my jackets. And while we were chatting last night, I realized that I meant to bring the pink jacket that I made for the wedding (Italy) and totally forgot about it! Darn!!!!

Well, it is time to get the day rolling. It starts early at 8 AM because classes start at 8:30, and there are eager beavers who arrive early. I need to get their machines threaded, and bobbins wound, and show them how to use the machine. Then, a few machines to box up so we don't have to do it all later in the day. 

I haven't seen the quilts, I haven't really seen the vendors, but I will see what I can see today. It's rare that I actually get a chance to check out the quilts, and I only saw the Trendtex Challenge online, and I have bids on two of the quilts. 

Here's a thought for you—do you think that for something like the Trendtex Challenge, the five fabrics should be more cohesive than they have been in the past? Would it encourage more people to participate? I totally get that this is a challenge, but if the fabrics are uninviting or totally bizarre, it is going to throw off those who want to take it on. 

Here is the link for the auction again - there are some very unique and interesting pieces, and I hope to bring home at least one of them. They will mail the items—you do not need to be present. The auction closes in 6 hours!!!!! 

And what is interesting is that it's not always the ones the judges like that get the most bids!!! Perhaps we need to have an online session to help people figure out how to do a challenge. Any takers on that? When the Trendtex Challenge is released in the fall, I might just host a class for fun to see if anyone joins, and we can brainstorm together to work on the challenge. Yep -- and there goes my free time. But I love to teach. I need to teach, or I will wither and die! Or I'll spend all that time in front of a jigsaw puzzle!

And on that note, I'm out of here. I have to iron a shirt today—WHAT????? 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

PS --- Be sure to let your friends know of the upcoming classes so they have time to think about what they want to take in the fall. The more people in the class, the more fun we will have. The details on where to get the patterns, timing, etc., will be up next week if I can get my act together.  Since they are on Zoom, anyone, anywhere can join.