When you run out of binding........

I got sidetracked big time yesterday!! I was supposed to be downstairs sewing, but the night before, I started reading a thriller, and well, I needed to know what happened. So while I did get some things done, I finished my book before I went to bed last night! 

And you know what? Every once in a while, we need to do that! The book was called "A Death at the Party" by Amy Stuart. Oh boy --- an interesting concept! Now today, I need to get some work done!

I grabbed a few pieces of paper from the floor beside the computer and dealt with them. Oh my --- an article from the east coast in 2013 (Saltscapes - November/December) that chatted about quilting in Nova Scotia and in particular a guild called La Gulde Acadienne de Clare.

An old article resurfaced

I'm going to finish reading the article today, and then I don't need to keep it - it goes in the recycling. I'm sure I have many more articles such as this one to get rid of. I love the article's subtitle!!

Love the subtitle!

And there's a large picture of all the quilts at one of their quilt shows. 

The guild quilts are on display in the church.

Great article to reread, but I do NOT need to keep this. And then I found a document listing all the shops that participated in Row by Row in Ontario. This was probably from 2015 or thereabouts. Again, I do NOT need to keep this!!!

Ontario shops for Row by Row in 2015

I'm reading the book "The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly" by Margareta Magnusson. Yes -- the author of "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning." It's a short audiobook read by Margareta, and it's funny. She talks about being a senior - she was in her late 80s when she wrote the book. It's a quick listen, and it's so interesting to hear her perspective on senior living. There are so many funny stories and subtle messages about enjoying your old age, even if you are old! 

Sadly, this wonderful lady passed away on March 12, 2026. But if you get a chance to read this one and the one about Death Cleaning, they are both good. 

At the beginning of this book, she talks a bit about Death Cleaning, and there was one sentence I wanted to capture, but it's an audiobook, and it's hard to do. But it was something like, "Who do you think you are to saddle your children with cleaning out your crap. Why should they take their precious time from their schedule to do a job that you should have done yourself?"  Something to that effect -- my words, not Margareta's. And I agree 100%. This is our crap, and we alone should be responsible for getting rid of it. I believe the exact sentence she used is in her obit, which is linked above. 

I'll be sharing several other books about cleaning and decluttering in the next couple of weeks as they come into my reader. Yes --- I know I should be working a wee bit faster, but slow and steady is better than nothing at all. 

As I read that thriller book yesterday, I moved around the house, first in the family room, then into the living room. It was too cold to sit outside. But after a bit, I finally had to give up. Murphy was relentless in her request to play. I stopped to play ball with her, give her cuddles, but it was never enough. Finally, to escape her, I had to go to Studio B to get some work done! 

I finished ripping out the topstitching I had done the day before with the wrong thread color. And now that sleeve is redone with the correct thread color. 

The seam is much better with red thread.

But not before I managed to catch the back of the jacket in the seam. Sigh..........  But that is fixed. 

Oh crap - I caught the back of the jacket in the seam.

Then I got busy and completed the second sleeve as well. So all that remains on this jacket is some hand stitching on the facing and dealing with the front closures. I could make buttons, but I want snaps. I like to change up what I do, so I always have samples of all types of things. I know it's hard to see in this picture, but those are both sleeves from inside the jacket, and all seam allowances are finished. 

The last of the seam finishes are complete!

Then I went back to reading my book! Thankfully, Murphy had calmed down by this time. She is relentless in asking to play ball. It just doesn't stop, but it was evening now, and she was quiet. 

I thought I should attempt to get the binding on two more items. And everything went smoothly for the first one, although I only got the binding stitched to the back, and will get the topstitching done later today. 

Remember what I said yesterday about not having enough binding? 

Well, there are two table runners, and they are identical. You know how it is -- why make one when you can make two? Everything is the same, except the color of the thread that I used for the quilting. Yep --- another sample! But I was short by this much binding. What the heck was I thinking when I made the binding? 

ACK -- not enough binding

Hmmm—do I have more of that fabric? Some of these items were made years ago, so there's a good chance they're gone. I went to the stash room and started pulling out some black fabrics, and OH MY— the third one I grabbed from the basket was the one for this table runner! The fabric gods were with me this morning. I've cut the extra strip needed and will get to it later today. 

I still have that fabric!!!!

I love it when I get lucky like that!!!! 

This was Murphy this morning. She just has to be everywhere! That is stuff that I'm taking to my parents later this coming week, and how convenient for her to use it as a pillow. Oh Murphy!!!!

MOM -- is this for me? 

I managed to do a bit of sorting and organizing of my quilts, but I must continue to do that every day. I need to pull quilts for an upcoming trunk show at the Thames Valley Quilt Guild - that's on April 8. The topic is Modern Quilts and will be fun!!!! 

It's going to be a busy day because then I have to scoot home, where I'll be doing a Facebook Live on the NEW Large Magnetic Hoop for the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 3, as well as chatting about the difference between metal and magnetic hoops. So be sure to listen to that because it's going to be educational (as always) and fun!!!!

I also experimented with the embroidery machine. I'm not ready to share what I did, but it's pretty cool. Now I need to find a place to use what I made! But I always make it a learning experience for myself, and hopefully I can work that into some lesson. I'm sure I can. 

Well, I need to get moving—I want to accomplish lots today, but I'm in a bit of limbo, so I need to put my thinking cap on while walking the girls and prioritize what needs to be done.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!