Size matters.................

Yesterday was an awesome day. I taught three classes and while I wasn't 100% completed what I would have like to have done, it was enough to get us going and thanks to Diane for having completed blocks.  I took loads of pictures and I'm going to try and get them all up this coming week.

But the best news was when I got home. I've been a busy little bee, I've updated The Task Master and while there are still a few things that need to be done from a few weeks ago, I don't feel too bad.

The even better news is that I have NOTHING to do today. I mean no appointments or commitments. I can sew all day, I can read, I can do whatever - well with the exception of having to quilt one customer quilt, but I hope to get that out of the way right away and still have loads of free time.  Yes - I'll probably be sewing and I'll take the girls for a walk later today, and I do have a couple of errands, but nice to not have any crushing deadlines!

I've been doing a lot of cutting over the past couple of weeks. My scrap basket on the table was overflowing and I didn't even have time to empty it. At one point, it got put on the floor and I aimed for it, but didn't actually hit it often.

The scrap basket

 At last a minute to empty the darn thing. I had to!

One pet mat full of scraps

 I had another bag of scraps sitting on the table and hadn`t had time to put that in a pet mat as well, so when I emptied it all, I had three bags full!!!

Three bags full!!

 Now to get the serger out and zip up the ends and those will be ready to go, along with the giant one I got yesterday. Thanks Shelly.  It`s still in the car so no photo of that one.

I managed to quilt a quilt this past week.  You`ll see a bit more of this quilt in the very near future and if you want the pattern, check out the link. The quilt is called STAX by Patti Carey of Northcott.  The fabric is by Patricia Ritter of Urban Elementz BASIX for Northcott.

STAX - quilted

 I used one of Patricia`s pantographs (Urban Elementz) to quilt it.  Bubbles which is NOT easy to do on a hand-guided long arm. But it worked!!!


(Speaking of FREE patterns - if you missed my tote bag that was in Quilts and More, I heard yesterday that it's available on ALLPEOPLEQUILT as a free download.  Check it out!!!!!

Then I had a tiny project to quilt and I was on a roll, so I loaded the backing on the long arm.  Yes - this teeny tiny piece is the backing.

A teeny tiny backing loaded

I will share the mini-quilt at some point, but not now.

So there has been much discussion about how to pack for a retreat. Tish takes ONE laundry basket, I take MANY everyday totes and usually a few extra things.  I vowed that I would take ONE laundry basket to the next retreat. I would start by sweeping everything from those tables into the basket. Well, I have to face reality that not all that stuff will fit in one laundry basket and then I`m not sure it would keep me busy for a five day retreat.

When I was in Ontario, California at the Target (searching for shoes to keep my feet dry),  LOOK what I found.

A LAMPER

It`s a combination between a laundry basket and a hamper.  Now that`s the kind of laundry basket that I WANT.  I wonder if we can buy them in Canada????   Of course, what happens if I fall in when I reach for that last project on the bottom?

If you search for the definition of a lamper on the internet, well there are many definitions, none of which describe it as a hamper/laundry basket combo.


You can even get something similiar on WHEELS.

Now here's the interesting thing, did you know that the capacity of a laundry basket is in bushels???  What does the average consumer know about bushels????   I notice that the basket on wheels has a capacity of 1.75 bushels, while a regular one has 2.0 bushels. I think I'll take the non-wheeled one because it's bigger!!! However if you live in Canada, the laundry baskets are measured in liters. One bushel = 35 liters. So a two bushel laundry basket is the equivalent of a 71 liter laundry basket.

But there is a square one at 2.1 bushels - I might aim for that one!!!  That extra .1 bushel - well I could put a lot in there.

Hmmmm - just checked the label of the lamper and the capacity is 2.0 bushels.  CRUDE!!!!  It's not bigger. Oh well, I tried!!!!

I'm just going to have to be very careful in packing - something I don't do. Everything will have to be vaccuum packed and only the actual pieces I will be sewing can be included. ACK!!!!

On that note, I'm out of here to enjoy my day!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!!


BTW - Lexi tells me she posted something this morning and I need to read it.