Friday, November 25, 2022

Progress in Studio B

OH MY GOODNESS - Tammy --- you're the best! Tammy just saved me a trip to IKEA and money! Instead of buying a desk with drawers, did you know you can buy a drawer unit that fits under your table? I just Googled them, and there are MANY options, so that looks like an excellent idea for ALL of my worktables. I might buy one to test it out and then see how that goes! Thank you, Tammy!!! It looks like I'm only going to find them at my favorite online store. So be it! 

And the item that I wanted and couldn't find, but Heather managed to find, should arrive by December 1. Imagine having to buy an English game in Quebec. I bet no one else thought to look there! And I'm surprised it didn't come up in the Google search! It is SOLD OUT everywhere, but not in Quebec! 

I have some very resourceful friends/readers, and I appreciate all the advice and help I've received over the years. 

Oh, I should mention that Cathie told me that using a hair dryer to heat the labels will melt the glue, and they peel off easily. Now I must find another sticky label and try that! And then to find a hair dryer! 

And for whatever reason, my nose is running like mad this morning. Well, that's not true, but it's stuffy and running, and I know it's because of allergies or this house or the dogs or something. I've popped a pill, and let's hope it kicks in!

Although I got lots of sewing done, I didn't make it downstairs to sew until late in the afternoon. Why? I had a massive paperwork job that HAD to be done, which took hours! But I found everything I needed and got a system going, and it was done. There is much more paperwork to do, but that was the worst job, and now it's over. I hope to get back to the paperwork in the morning and sewing all afternoon routine. 

The ironing board is clear, as I needed to press some large seams. 

Clear ironing board


The cutting table is clear, which is good as I needed it to add a border. 

Clear cutting table


The sewing tables are clear except for a quilt that will be bound - well, no, I don't have time to bind a quilt today, so that will get moved. 

But I was using the worktables last night as my conference area, and I watched a webinar on my iPad and Googled stuff on the computer. 

Gathering information


There's so much information out there that you could NEVER tire of finding something to watch. And rather than watching an entertainment show, I'm watching information-gathering shows. Oh my god -- I've turned into my DAD!! He watches YouTube for hours! Not for entertainment, but to learn stuff!

OK, let's see what I accomplished in the sewing department. I got the backing for my orange quilt. 

The backing for a quilt


OH -- I never showed you the orange quilt, and I finished it for UFO and never posted it here. Or did I? Well, here it is again. 


My chunk of the month quilt top - DONE


I didn't get the color gradation quite right in the orange, but honestly -- I'm thrilled with it. I'm thrilled to pieces since it's been a UFO for almost 10 years. It's my design, and I intend to redo the pattern and make it available to you. The old pattern is on my desk, waiting for its turn in the paperwork! 

The binding is also made, and this quilt is now in the "to be quilted" pile. 

Binding for the orange quilt



I cut the missing piece for my Tula Pink Butterfly quilt, and that's all I will say about that. The final reveal is TONIGHT! 


The missing piece for the butterfly quilt


I'm up-to-date with all the blocks for Toes in the Sand. This is a sew-along hosted by Thimbles and Things and taught by me! I love the colors! A mix of Kaffe Fassett and my stash. 


My blocks for Toes in the Sand


I laughed when I finally got downstairs to sew. I opened my little box and found the magnetic pincushion was stuck to the lid. That's OK since I rarely use the pincushion, I don't need it, and it conveniently got itself out of the way!

My little toolbox


I added the items on the cutting table to the items on the floor. Yikes-- this is getting out of hand. But I aim to assign time to work on each project (or more or less commit to doing it now) or find a home for the stuff in a closet. Or there's an empty bin in this pile that could be used to "hide" the stuff -- make a list of what's in it and tuck it away, so things don't look so unruly. I know I can find a home for most of it quickly. YES -- let's do that today -- WAIT -- I have homework to prepare for two classes tomorrow. Then I can tackle this and the current projects table. They need to be addressed before the end of the year. 


The stack of stuff that needs to be addressed!



Can you see the slobber and dirty paw prints on this window? This is the FRONT window. And Murphy has a bad habit of jumping at the window if she sees something of interest outside. So we've had to block the window off with a wrought iron bike to prevent this from happening. I imagine her breaking the window, and it wouldn't be pretty! When they test windows, I bet they didn't try an excited dog repeatedly banging on it!

Dirty paw prints on the window

It's hard to judge in the photo, but those prints are pretty high up as that is a large window. Yep - she would stand in her bed and pound! Sigh............. 





My phone is getting very annoying. It's cutting out regularly now, and I do NOT want to buy a new one. I can get a new one for $300 through the insurance plan, the $300 being the deductible. My current one is so unreliable - I'm starting to hate it! I may walk to the mall just to enquire, and I can look at the flip phones!

I see that Torry is also reading The Seven Sisters series. Oh my --- this book is heartwrenching. Just when you think things are going well, they aren't, and some of the decisions made by the characters? Honor and love? We don't have that kind of honor and love in today's society! I know it's only fiction, but there are characters I've wanted to reach out to and strangle! Just over six hours left to read in four days. I'll make it, and I see the next one is available at one of our joint libraries. Should I get it now? Well, I'll wait until this one is done -- no need to waste a couple of days, and I see it's shorter -- only 19 hours!

I see it's time to get moving. The temperature is very out of whack these days! It's so warm -- I wore a vest on my afternoon walk and almost died of the heat! 



Don't forget there's another day of QUILTsocial to read. This week, I did actual projects, and you will love them. 

And it's Virtual Retreat weekend!! 

Here's the link to Saturday, November 26, starting at 6 PM. 


Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89254233911?pwd=VGQrTnFybW1HMWpleHA4M2Q2NGVwZz09 Meeting ID: 892 5423 3911 Passcode: 982797


And here's the link to Sunday, November 27, starting at NOON.


Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81693717518?pwd=STNoVVQzbDd4ZnROQndNNlpvcC90QT09 Meeting ID: 816 9371 7518 Passcode: 579285




The dates for the Virtual Retreat in December are the 17th and 18th since the regular date would fall on Christmas Eve, and well, I don't know how many people would attend! I'd be there, but likely by myself!


And that's a wrap for today! I've got loads to do -- quilting and sewing. Unpacking and paperwork! All in a day's work!!

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!





3 comments:

  1. Elaine, love the little bike wall hanging over your cutting table. Do you have a pattern name you can share. Would look great in the room my Husband does his winter indoor biking, and would work up way faster then the bike quilt I have on my todo list :-).

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  2. I too loved the seven sisters books and just might start all over again!!

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