Lazy Lexi

Good progress was made yesterday with the presentations and the sewing! Yeah! It will be a busy day again today, but I think I might just make it! It was an interesting day as I snapped pictures and put them in the presentation. Then, I received pictures from people that needed to be added to the presentations. I hope I got them all in the correct place! If not - well, we can laugh about it. 

OK—you have to check out this video! When I was at Golden Peak Media Studios to film a couple of Fons and Porter's Love of Quitting episodes, I was chatting with one of the editors. I mentioned how much I LOVED (and that was true) the latest issue of the magazine. She said, "Can you say that on film in under one minute?" And here's the result! 

I love going there and had another super time! I can't wait to go back. Hopefully, they want me back! Since this was my second time -- there might be another time! 

And I swear we need to get excited about life! Everything in life is exciting! If it's not, then we better find a new life. 

As I was busy sewing, Studio B got crazy with scrap boxes everywhere. I'll put this all away later today, but look at how nicely those scrap boxes fit on the top shelf of my computer desk. It was perfect!!

An excellent place for my scrap boxes!

But I got a chuckle when I pulled out the various colors I needed and found this. Who is that imposter in the middle with MANY colors in it? 

Which of these doesn't belong?

Good grief—it's even labeled blue. Whenever I was sorting, I took whatever color I spotted through the front and threw it in. I need to tidy up that box. 

What? Labeled blue but filled with orange?

I have made some of the scrap boxes neat and tidy, but these ones are a mess. It's not on my agenda at this moment; I'm still trying to get through the brown scrap boxes. But the day will come! 

Then, I got the sewing machine set up to sew and attempted to thread the needle. 

OH - where's the needle?

It actually helps IF you have a needle in the machine! Oh, silly me!!!!

That's better!

I walked to the mall to mail a couple of packages, and two more are waiting to go. It's so nice to get things out of the house! While at the mall, I passed these outfits in a window. This is a trend that I can't figure out. 

On the left is a knit sweater that is long at the waist but paired with knit shorts. On the right, we have a cropped knit sweater with long pants, which are also knit. Personally, if I were going to wear this, which I would not, I'd have the long sweater with the long pants and the cropped sweater with the shorts. But then, I'm NOT a fashionista, so what do I know?!

Does this appeal to you?

Oh my—look at Lexi. Give that dog an inch (one-third of the couch), and she assumes the entire thing is hers. 

MOM -- I'm trying to sleep!

I made her scoot over, and you would think I asked her to run a marathon. She reluctantly moved and was not happy! Poor thing! 

MOM -- why do I have to move? This is MY couch! 

So here's my latest learning tool. Everyone is talking about ProCreate (a graphic program for the iPad). I purchased it a while ago and only briefly tinkered with it. But I took this flower and traced it. Now, there is no manual that I can find. OK—I did not look very hard—I'm sure there's a manual online. But I was able to figure it out. A graphic program is a graphic program! 

A picture of a daisy on my iPad

Here is the flower I very quickly drew. This is just the tip of the iceberg as I learn the tools, fix lines, etc. We all have to start somewhere. I start small!

My daisy

Not only am I learning that, but I'm also learning more features of the mySewnet embroidery software. I'm becoming EXTREMELY familiar with the HUNDREDS of pages in the various User's Guides for mySewnet. There's SO MUCH!!! You can do so much, but there's not enough time in a day to do it all!! There's room for improvement in setting priorities in my world. 

As I was sewing (which was awesome), I worked on the black-and-white quilt as an ender and leader project. These are the precut bits. 

Shapes cut for the black and white quilt

Which I'm currently sewing into pairs. 

Sewing into pairs

Those pairs will eventually go on these centers, which are now complete but still need to be trimmed. This will be a great job to do at the Virtual Retreat this weekend. 

The centers of the blocks

And we are back at the EXIT Games!! Although we got off to a bit of a rocky start, we have now solved two clues in this puzzle. Before we know it, it'll be December 1, and we get to crack open the Advent Calendar! I can hardly wait!

The EXIT Game

I see the dots on the table, so I'd better get myself in gear and update the travel map. It's been years, and I know a few places did NOT get tagged for all of us!!! And where will my travels take me (or us) in 2025? Discussions are already happening—too many places, not enough time or money!

The dots to update the travel map

Speaking of travel, I dreamed of making 35K status with Air Canada last night. I'm short by 76 points. YES --- that is NOT a typo. All I need to do is take Uber to the airport and back, and I'll make it. But I hope to take one more flight this year. Yes - there is the possibility of three more trips this year; one just got canceled, which I'm OK with. But of the three potential, TWO should happen for sure. I just need to get past this weekend when I'll have more time to plan. 

I'm sure many of you can relate to this! Oh my gosh -- the HOURS I would spend in the library, searching the card catalogs and then going to retrieve the material. I LOVED it. I wasn't even introduced to an actual library until I was an adult. 

Who remembers?

I lived in the country, and the teacher was responsible for bringing books to the one-room country school once a month. I would easily breeze through whatever she brought. I don't think it was until I was in university that I got a whiff of what a card catalog was all about. But I used it extensively!!!

I wonder how many of those cabinets are still around? I have a small one in Studio B filled with craft supplies. 

Well, it's time to get the day started! There is so much to do and so little time. Actually, that's a lie. While there is lots to do, I don't feel pressure. Everything is ready enough that I could run the classes as the presentations are, but I like to freshen them up, add new things, and make a new sample or two, so that's what I'm doing today. The tough parts of the presentations are mostly done! 

Now, back to those UFOs or the drawers. Are you making progress on them? You should—it should become a way of life! Just like flossing your teeth. OK—for me, flossing is not a way of life, but I'm trying hard to make it so. Since my last dentist appointment, I've been flossing once daily and brushing my gumline, not my teeth. I'm throwing in the towel if they don't say there's an improvement next time! 

It's all about setting priorities and then following through. We can't do everything, so pick your battles.

This weekend is Quilt Market, and then Quilt Festival follows. I went to both for several years, and when I stopped working at the fabric company, I felt a HUGE void in my life. I NEEDED to be there. Now? I have ZERO desire to set up a booth, walk the floor, or see the quilts. OK -- maybe I want to see the quilts. But the rest? Not in my lifetime would I go back!!! It's exhausting, especially if you are working. I'll take a smaller show any day! 

Here are the links for the Virtual Retreat. 

Saturday, October 26 - Starts at 6 PM EST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89816483795?pwd=Mjc3M3pvVmZPdjdsQzlHS3Zhck52dz09

Meeting ID: 898 1648 3795
Passcode: 248667

Sunday, October 27 - Starts at NOON EST or shortly after

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82983517671?pwd=ODdsa1FJenQwdFNaQWFTNGd4bEhPZz09

Meeting ID: 829 8351 7671
Passcode: 117636

Have a super day!!!!