When the world of puzzles and quilting collide!

Ah -- the weather! Yes -- it's pretty amazing how different the weather can be, even in nearby locations. Those different weather conditions have given our sewing group a chuckle from time to time. Because we all live in different locations but are somewhat close to each other, we can forecast what is coming to the others! It's especially neat during a thunderstorm! OK -- that's when we are on a call. 

Most of our snow disappeared yesterday, even though it was only zero. The sun was out for a bit, and that sun is mighty powerful! One had to be mindful of the somewhat icy sidewalks yesterday, but it was manageable. Today it should be dry. But I'm always watchful! 

I had loads of fun in Studio B yesterday. I accomplished a lot, but can't share anything with you yet. As I work on those half-square triangles, some of them are too large for what I want. So those ones get turned into hourglass blocks. I have a collection of hourglass blocks in various sizes. 

Making hourglass blocks from scraps

I was asked yesterday what I am going to do with all those half-square triangles. Well, I made an hourglass quilt from one set of hourglass blocks. It went into the A Needle Pulling Thread magazine a couple of issues ago. It's from Issue 69 - Scrappy and Spectacular. Here is the Table of Contents—I'll let you find the quilt. 

Can you spot the scrappy hourglass quilt?

My goal for the half-square triangles is to make a scrappy quilt, or several, when I get around to it. I want to get the pieces under control (seriously???) before I start sewing the units together. You have to keep in mind that I prefer to sew little bits together rather than sew with yardage. I'm thrilled to rescue something or pull it apart and remake it, rather than start something new. And I always joke that when I need to downsize my sewing space, those units don't take up much room and will provide hours, days, and weeks of entertainment. 

The other thing to keep in mind is that I don't sew for the end product. I have way too many quilts and am working to get rid of them, but my LOVE is the process of sewing. I don't care what I make, as long as I make! 

Speaking of which, I'm trying to find a particular small quilt. I don't think I gave it away, but I couldn't find it yesterday. But it makes me realize that it's time for a tidy-up. The quilts are strewn in multiple places, and I need to take some action. Perhaps I'll schedule 15 minutes or so a day to start sorting. 

It's so nice to have so much free time! Seriously? I actually have time not to freak out or get stressed. It's just too unreal! But I'm not complaining. I love it, and I made good progress on prepping for the classes next weekend. I might as well get it done rather than rushing on the day before, which was always the case, and then the homework never got completed. I'm in good shape, except that I took a presser foot off the machine that I was using and set it aside. And now I can't find it! Of course!! I'm hoping it'll jump right out at me when I get down there later today. 

I was going to take that GREEN jigsaw puzzle with me when I went to my parents, but I've decided to hang on to it and swap it with a friend who has the blue and red ones. I have the green and orange, so we can swap (not for keeps) two for two. That leaves me to track down the remaining three colors - purple, yellow, and pink. I may have to break down and buy those. Finding them at the thrift store is unlikely, but you never know. 

In the meantime, I have loads of puzzles to work on, so I do not need anything new. I had pulled out a 1000-piece puzzle to take with me, but then decided to swap it for this one. 

My new puzzle

I thought the guy might appreciate the tool puzzle more than the butterflies and birds that I had originally dug out! There is a green elastic band on that box!!! 

Thank goodness for quilt mini design boards, although the bottom two are 18" square. The puzzle pieces are larger than they were for the green puzzle, and I wasn't careful when placing them down. I required FIVE boards. Thankfully, I still have two more, and they are currently in use as I work on my project for next weekend. 

The pieces are laid out.

As I moved the pieces to the boards, I pulled out all the border pieces. That doesn't seem like enough pieces to make the border of this puzzle. 

The border pieces

However, shortly thereafter, the border was together, but MISSING two pieces. 

It's funny how that happens. You have to touch EACH piece to place it on the boards, and you would think you would see all the border pieces, but nope!! It happens every time. At least these pieces are more regular than the last one, but a lot is going on in this puzzle. I started by pulling most of the red pieces and working on those. There are a few more to pull tonight, and I'll work on all things red. Then onto the next color or item. But it's covered for the day. And see -- it only takes the end of a banquet table to work. I LOVE using those design boards as you don't need a large space to spread out. 

I have one of those puzzle roll things, but I might give it away - anyone want one? I've never used it, and now, based on this setup, I don't think I will either. And I certainly will never use the sorting trays -- that's a waste of time as far as I'm concerned. A few sheets of foam core from the dollar store and some inexpensive felt from Fabricland, and VOILA -- design boards. Well, I already had them because I use them for quilting all the time. 

I finished reading the romance book yesterday. I see there is a new genre called MM Romance. MM meaning man with man. Now I'm that much smarter! Still reading the other two books. That paranormal one is just weird. But then I guess that's how that genre works. I started a new audiobook, which is interesting, but all books are interesting. You just need to open your mind and realize that the world beyond my doorstep is very different. 

The book is called Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. A story that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover! How will the ragtag group of people cope with a big lotto win? I honestly wonder where I get all the recommendations from. This didn't come from my usual sources. 

I see Margareta Magnusson has passed. She wrote the book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. I believe I read that book, but it might be time to reread it. Although I am doing very well, thank you very much!!! It might be as slow as one folder a day, or even a couple of pieces of paper each day, but I am definitely well on my way to cleaning up the mess. She wrote another book - the Swedish Art of Aging Well. I might have to get that one, although I think I'm doing pretty well and in better physical shape now than I was one year ago! 

The biggest issue is letting go, and I'm there. Remember, the point is not to get rid of everything, but to get rid of the things you no longer want/use or need. There is no sense in leaving it for your children to clean up the mess. That is just wrong. I'm still actively sewing, and I'm not ready or need to get rid of that stuff yet. But the time will come, and then I'll be very much ready to deal with it. But the rest of the stuff? I'm happy to part with it, but in my way. 

And lastly, here is a picture of the girls hanging out with Dad. They just won't sleep close together, but close enough! 

The girls have some downtime.

I think I forgot to mention that Microsoft called me last week and is still monitoring the situation. Everything seems fine, and  I need to take one more look at Outlook Classic to see what else I have questions about. The support person is very patient, and I suspect they are using me to collect data. No need to check into my computer, but just to see what the heck is going on, as I'm sure they have tons of issues with people as they migrate to Windows 11. We have another call scheduled for Monday. 

And on that note, I'm out of here. I have the UFO Club this morning, and everything is ready to go!!! Then I have a "free" afternoon, which means I'll likely be sewing and then reading after dinner. WAIT -- I have a few puzzle pieces to put in as well!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!