Discombulated

While I had a great sleep, the day did not start well. Remember how I said that everything has a home - at least in Studio B? Well, it's the same when I travel; I am NOT one to unpack my suitcases in the hotel room. I leave everything in the suitcase, and there is zero danger of me leaving something in the drawers. It's one less thing to check. 

So yesterday, when I was looking for my conference T-shirts and then my yoga pants, they were not to be found. I thought the pants had been left in one of my colleagues' rooms, as that is where we stored our suitcases when we first arrived, and I had changed into my shorts. But leaving a pair of pants in a room that is not mine is not like me. 

The shirts - I thought I might have left them in the classroom, but after checking and asking a few people, they were not to be found. Drat!!!! What a mess. My boss even asked me if something was going on in my personal life because I am NOT like this at all. By the way - everything is fine at home - well, wait for that drama at the end of the blog. 

I came upstairs around lunchtime, and it was at that moment that I remembered that I had unpacked the clothes and put some of them in the damn drawer!!!! And yes -- there were my yoga pants and my two conference shirts. Sheesh --- you would think I would remember doing that! It's not that I forgot - I was chatting with Margaret as I did it, so I can blame her for distracting my brain! 

All is good, and I'm together!

We could wear whatever we wanted yesterday, but I decided to wear one of the Western shirts I had borrowed from a friend. Thanks, Beth!!!! And I decided to wear the cowboy boots I also borrowed from her. You can't really see in this photo - I meant to get someone to take a picture, but I forgot! I have to say that my brain may have been scattered, but I looked pretty westernish in my outfit!!! I think if you click on the picture, it will open up larger. 

Me in my western gear!

I thought the boots would be a killer, but they were actually quite comfortable, although we were not standing around all day. As for getting them off, that was easy. I think I may just wear them again today!! Looks a bit more classy than the shoes I brought. I can't wear dress shoes anymore, or I don't wear them at these events. I have a pair of running/trail shoes that look decent, and I wear those. Not my HOKAS, which are huge. 

It was great to see everyone and meet some new educators. I sure wish we had more opportunities throughout the year to get together, or at least to chat online. There is so much inspiration, talent, creativity, and knowledge among us, and it would be fun to share it. I think we are 21 educators here. 

After breakfast, we sat down in front of the new PFAFF creative icon 3. Oh my -- I will NOT share any of the details at this point - I want it to be a surprise to anyone coming to this event, not that any of them would be reading my blog, but it's not my place to share those details. But wow!!!! There are some very cool features on top of what already existed, and, well, it's going to be loads of fun to learn the ins and outs of that machine in greater depth. 

There are actually quite a few new things from both a physical and a software standpoint. 

What is nice is that two of the top executives from North America sat in the room, listened to our feedback, and took notes. And how can you have 21 educators in a room and not have feedback!! We are the ones that put those machines to the test to see what it can and cannot do. Let's say that our boss has her hands full with her crew!!! The Canadians are quite vocal, and hey -- when I have an ear, I'm going to take advantage of it and explain why we want or don't want certain things. 

We had lunch in small groups, which was good because we got to chat with other educators in a less formal environment, and I had mentioned something about creating edge-to-edge designs in our embroidery software. Because of some comments I made in class, I had a private lesson with our top guru in the afternoon. I was in my glory because this woman can do anything with our software. I have a few new tricks to practice when I get home, and it's all about digitizing, which is my weak point! 

Personally designed and drawn edge-to-edge digital designs - here I come!!!! Don't hold your breath—it's going to be baby steps. The designs will be simple to start, but I'll get there! 

Then it was time for dinner, as everyone wanted an early one. I convinced my small group to go back to The Diner. Hey -- it was a great place, good options and close. This is a multi-story restaurant covering the corner of a building on six floors. I believe the kitchens are on several floors, and the restaurant is on floors 1, 4, and 6. 

This photo was taken from the 6th floor, which is a bar. We just went up to see the view. Our hotel is the large building in the background on the left - the one that you can see in full, not the ones on the immediate left. There is this tiny little corner balcony at the top! 

The view from The Diner

Our hotel room is on the 26th floor, which reminds me of the time I was in Atlanta many, many years ago. There was a storm, and the wind was blowing so bad, the windows were vibrating. I remember thinking that perhaps I should be in the lobby. With all that expanse of windows, if the windows blew out, so would I!!!! Thankfully everything was fine, but I don't think I got a lot of sleep that night. 

Despite seeing some storm clouds from our room the other night, we've just had hot weather. 

Stormy skies the other night

I had someone in our small group take a picture of me in the elevator at The Diner, so you'll know it exists. 

The elevator in The Diner

As we waited for several to use the washroom before leaving, I checked out the desserts. BUT I didn't have any. I'm just guzzling my water and trying to eat healthy. 

No room for dessert!

It was still early, so we walked past the SVP head office. It's a neat building not far from the hotel. Apparently it used to be a wild nightclub or something like that. Interestingly, it has SINGER on the outside, but no other brand. Very discreet. The last time I was here, the offices were in a suburb of Nashville. 

SVP Head Office in Nashville

Our little group of four split up: two people went to see the Broadway area, and the other two, including me, went back to the hotel. I got a chance to chat with Elizabeth, who is new to the educator job, but not new to the company. So we had a grand chat, and I'll share what she did to embellish her T-shirt. It's stinking cute. 

How cool is this? 

That is such a cool idea to embellish an ordinary T-shirt!!! 

Then we took a walk around the conference floor after discovering a cool way to get there from the front door. Instead of taking the elevator, which can be a long wait, you take the escalator from the lobby and VOILA - the conference floor is right there! There is signage everywhere! The conference is called the Global Sewing Summit - the first of its kind for us. 

Signage on the escalator

We stopped and chatted with a few people (who were not busy setting up), and I love chatting with the person responsible for designing the stitches on the machines. She is so darn creative, and wait until you see what she has done this time. It is unbelievable, and I can't wait to experiment with this new stitch. I would LOVE to visit our engineering team in Sweden. Most of them are here, but wouldn't it be fun to visit the Swedish office? I'd offer to go and intern for free!!!! 

Here's a neat diagram of Singer's history. 

A timeline of Singer!

They still had a bit of setup to do when we left, and since that was NOT our job, we were on our way to our rooms. 

During the day, I received some very disturbing news from home. The two adults there were not very forthcoming in their descriptions, so it took a long time to get all the details. 

Apparently, a raccoon tried to get into the house through the back door, and of course, you know Murphy and Lexi - they hate raccoons. So there was quite a ruckus, and they would NEVER listen and come in on their own. I can't imagine what kind of a job it was to get both of them in the house. They would have been frantic to get the raccoon. 

All I know is that Murphy, when DH finally got her into the house, was so upset that she threw up twice, and she never does that. Lexi was also quite agitated and had cornered the raccoon by the house, practically nose to nose with the darn thing, before they were able to grab her and bring her into the house. It sounds like quite a mess. 

The raccoon must have been sick because they never come into the backyard, and this was the middle of the day, when they are usually sleeping. So they called animal services, but the raccoon had left by then. The poor girls. 

As if that wasn't enough, I got pictures from DH just now. Apparently there is a massive storm at home, and he went upstairs to shut the windows. Lexi was so upset that she followed him up the stairs. This is a dog that will NOT do the stairs EVER!!!!! Oh my --- I'm afraid to hear what else could possibly happen while I'm away. 

I think the girls are telling me something - "MOM - we don't want you to leave again! We miss you too much!"

I am so mixed up in my days as we left on Sunday and did some work on Sunday, and for some reason, that has thrown me off. But all is good!!! 

Let's hope that all the excitement is over! I don't want any more excitement, here or at home. I know where all my clothes are; I know where all my samples are, although I'm afraid to take them out of the room in case I lose them! But all will be good. I've got my sh*t together now, or at least I hope I do. 

A note from anyone wishing to sign up for the Forty Shades of Grey quilt --- the store I recommended (Out of Hand in Calgary) purchasing the pattern from is out of stock. They are willing to order more, but they need to know the numbers NOW to get it here on time. So please, please, please—if you are going to order this pattern, let me know—send me an email (elainetheriault@gmail.com), or, even better, contact the store. There is a phone number and email address in that link. 

40 Shades of Grey quilt

If you know someone who wants to take the class and is away or doesn't read my blog, please let them know. I don't want the store to order a bunch of patterns that don't sell. So PLEASE let the store know that you want a pattern. Tell them you are taking a class with me, which helps with the order. 

Pass that class information to anyone who might be interested. 

We start at 8 AM, so with that early start and having to get the blog together, there isn't time for a morning walk! I think it will be a low count on steps day, as we have dinner tonight, so not much time between the end of the day and dinner. 

So let's hope that today - at least the rest of it will be non-traumatic. DH is at home with two very scared girls upstairs, and it's going to be a challenge getting Lexi down, as I doubt she will go on her own. Murphy has her own issues that I haven't shared, but when I'm back, I'll share more details. She's fine but is slowing down, which has caused some issues with stairs. 

And on that note, I'm out of here!!! And praying for a trauma-free day both here and at home! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Quick wits and creative thinking saved the day!!!!

Yes -- someone mentioned that I took the time to clean up as I went and that Studio B will be waiting for me when I get home. Well, it would be waiting for me under any circumstances, but it will be waiting for me with open arms! I don't know why I took the time to put things away, or found a corner of the table to set aside the things that needed to be put away, and then I did it before I left, except for a few things. 

That didn't take that long, and since everything has a home, it really wasn't a big deal to put things away. It makes it so much easier to work. And I find it very therapeutic and satisfying to tidy up. So while I'm going to enjoy my time here, I can hardly wait to get home and get back to work. I really enjoyed those last couple of weeks, although lots of other things got set aside. The pace will be a bit more relaxed, and I NEED to empty at least one table of unfinished things before the end of the summer! 

For the most part, my travel days are pretty boring. However, yesterday, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being very dramatic, it was about a 5. Let's just say it could easily have become a ten, except for some quick action! 

DH asked me if I wanted him to drive me to the airport. Hey -- if you are willing to get up early and get me there early, then I'm OK with that. I had a few last-minute things to switch out or throw in the suitcase, and then we were off. 

I haven't flown to the US in a long time, which isn't a big deal - it's just remembering how the airport works in that area. I got my tag for my luggage and put it on and then tried to figure out what was happening in the bag drop area. It was a zoo. Then I realized that there was no single line - it was just small lines in front of each of the drop-off conveyor belts. That was a disaster, as the machines weren't scanning properly and sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't. 

People were getting very frustrated and trying multiple times; eventually, it would work, but not always. I was one of the lucky ones. I only had to try twice, and my luggage was accepted. However, the people behind me were getting impatient, and there was no need for that. Just patiently wait your turn, because the more you grumble, the less likely it is to work!

Then I got in the wrong line to get through security. I had to backtrack out and get in the NEXUS line, but that's OK. It was easy to fix. While this process was easy, there were lines at security since only one lane was working. NEXUS was easy, except I ended up in the wrong maze (again!) and had to backtrack. There was no lineup; I just went down the incorrect aisle. 

I had breakfast in a restaurant. Something I don't usually get to do at the airport, but I had left myself lots of time just in case. 

Then I got to the gate. As I was approaching the gate, I spotted this flight attendant, and I had to take a picture. OH - I didn't forward it to myself. From the back, she looked like Barbie. Her waist compared to her hips was so out of proportion. It just didn't look natural, nor did it look comfortable, although her belt wasn't really cutting into her skin. It was just weird. Turns out she was the flight attendant for my flight! 

Margaret joined me at the gate, as we were both on the same flight. The good news of the day is that I got upgraded. I know - I wouldn't usually use my points for a two-hour flight, but I keep missing out on the upgrades on other flights, and so many points were lost at the end of the year, so I take them when I can!!!!

This is the view of my city from the airport. Yep -- I live quite close to the airport, but not close enough or in the area that is directly affected by the noise. Almost all of those highrises are condos or apartments. They are NOT office buildings. It's such a weird city - I believe Mississauga is the seventh largest city in Canada, yet it doesn't have a radio station, a newspaper, or TV. All of that entertainment/communciaton comes from Toronto. We are a suburb of Toronto. It's weird. 

Mississauga skyline from the runway

And then we arrived in Nashville, Tennessee!!! This is my third time here. 

Welcome to Nashville!!!

We decided to take a cab to the hotel rather than Uber. That almost became a terrible mistake. We arrived at the hotel, and I paid the driver with my credit card. We got our luggage and went into the hotel. Margaret was in the process of checking in when I spotted this painting on the wall in the lobby, went to take a picture, and realized I didn't have my phone!!!!! Margaret quickly said the cab was still sitting at the curb, and he was just about to drive away when I ran outside madly flapping my arms to get his attention.  

YES -- when I went to pay him, my phone fell to the floor, and I didn't realize it. Thank god he was still there, and Margaret spun me into action, or it would have been an unpleasant day trying to track that cab driver down. Thank god I like to take a lot of pictures! 

Anyway, since we are in Nashville, there is music-themed art everywhere!!! 

The art in the lobby

The next issue was my hotel room. It appears that I didn't have a reservation. WHAT????? How could that be? Well, I realized after that we were EACH supposed to book our rooms, not just book ourselves into the conference. OH -- I totally missed that part of the email. We have some protocols for other events and don't require us to book our rooms. I think I was busy with the wedding when that email came in, and I totally misread it. Yep - that email came in on June 3, and I totally missed the big BOOK YOUR ROOM button!!!!

OK -- so now what? The hotel still had rooms, but not at the discounted rate. And there is a big price difference. I was happy to pay the difference since it was my fault. We happened to run into our great leader at the time, and she suggested that Margaret and I share a room since the suites are actually very large. I asked, and Margaret said that worked for her - we have roomed together before. So another HUGE thanks to Margaret for saving me some money. 

I am now totally indebted to her this week!!!! I will say that I'm a bit happy about that as I find it totally wasteful that each person has their own room, although I get that people don't like sharing. But seriously --- there are two huge beds, and the bathroom, and then this whole living room space, and there's a door to the bedroom. It works for us, and I'm set up in the living room so I can write the blog without disturbing Margaret!! 

So while that wasn't a total disaster as there were rooms here, it would have cost me a lot of money for that mistake on my part! BUT all is OK and the rest of the day went just fine. Lesson learned -- check all the details of the email for upcoming conferences. 

I walked around a bit in the morning. We met up with others in our group, but they were going shopping. Seriously? I don't need to go to a mall to shop. So I struck off on my own. Shopping is the most boring thing in the entire world, unless you need something, which I do not. 

And it was super hot outside - 31 feeling like 39!!! 

I did some Geocaching and Adventure Lab stuff - of course I did! I spotted this Music City Walk of Fame across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 

Music City Walk of Fame

And there were a lot of very familiar names along the walk. It was quite fun to read all the names. By the way, we are staying right downtown near the Music City Center, which is where QuiltCon was held in 2019, and a group of eight of us shared an Airbnb. 

Johnny Cash

I spotted a lady wearing this purse and had to stop to ask her where she got it. It's adorable, although I probably would never use it. They were from Pennsylvania, and I think they had bought it at the airport on a previous trip. They did not buy it here. And she had badges on her strap. 

Cute purse for using while in Nashville

I was at "our" restaurant back home a couple of weeks ago when a young lady walked in and sat down near us. She was wearing this gorgeous yet simple pink jacket, and the cut and color looked absolutely amazing on her. I stopped on our way out and complimented her on the jacket. People, even strangers, are extremely flattered and happy when you do that. It's something simple, but it can make someone's day!!! If you see something you really like, don't be shy about stopping them to ask questions about it or give them a compliment. It puts a smile on people's faces!!!!

As I was walking, I spotted this. Hey—if I can't eat donuts while I'm away, why not pancakes? Apparently this is a very famous pancake house, called Pancake Pantry. 

Pancake Pantry

I don't remember the time of day when I passed, but both times, the lineup was insane!!!! I am NOT waiting in a line in the heat to eat pancakes! And our breakfast is included in the room fee (oops - let's not say that too loudly), so I'll eat here. BUT - just for the fun of it, I could run down one morning - it opens at 6 AM. How many tourists could be out at 6 AM? 

The lines were long at the Pancake Pantry.

There is a large old bridge that was converted into a pedestrian bridge, so I decided to walk across it. It's called the John Seiganthaler Pedestrian Bridge and was built in 1909!!!! 

Sign on the pedestrian bridge.

And of course, there was a geocache on the bridge, so I had to get that. I had to use the hint, which is probably the only way I would have found it. There is a LOT of metal on that bridge, and a small magnetic box can be attached to the railings anywhere! 

The geocache

This is the view from the bridge. 

The view from the bridge

I decided to stop for lunch and went to The Diner, which was just down the street from the pancake house. By this time, the sweat was pouring off my face as it was hot outside, and it was the perfect time to stop. I don't know what those fries were spiced with, but they were the best fries I've ever eaten. And everywhere you go, they serve pickles. Good dill pickles!!!! 

So we have a thing about fries at home. I don't eat them, but they came with my sandwich, although I could have substituted them for a salad or green beans if memory serves me correctly. Because they were so good, I had to ask if they were air-fried or fried in oil. They were fried in oil! If they had been air-fried, I might have had to think twice about the air-fryer. But I don't think I'm ever going to change my mind about the need for one at our house. 

The diner is a multi-level restaurant, and if you click on the link above, you can see an aerial view of the area, including its proximity to the bridge. The owner loves all things diner-related, and there were many vintage pictures on the wall that I forgot to photograph before I left. WAIT -- that photo on The Diner's page is a 360-degree photo - just let it play, and it's quite cool to see downtown Nashville. 

I would go back there again!

What other oddities did I spot? Well, if you got cowboy boots, you need to flaunt them. I spotted lots of women wearing cowboy boots with shorts and dresses. I think it would have been very hot to be wearing cowboy boots yesterday. While I had shorts with me, which I changed into, I didn't have open sandals, and my feet were hot. However, we will be inside the hotel for the remainder of our time here, so there was no need to bring them. 

Cowboy boots are very popular items.

And this is a driverless car!!! To use it, you download the Waymo App, and away you go. I'm tempted to do it just for the fun, but I don't think we will have time. Look at the big honking sensors on its roof and the sides. They use an electric Jaguar I-PACE SUV. 

 

The Waymo driverless car

When I first left the others as they went shopping, I happened to walk in front of this Baptist Church, and the daily greeter tried to nab me!!! But I quickly got out of his clutches. It's a huge church, and while he was trying to be very helpful and friendly, I didn't need his help. I had my geocaching app! 

The First Baptist Church

Then I was back at the hotel to get to work. We weren't supposed to work, but what the heck else was I going to do, so I pleaded that I was bored and got put to work. 

There are boxes and boxes of the new PFAFF creative icon sitting in the hallways as they were unpacked and tested. We didn't get a chance to explore the new software features, but we will have that opportunity later today. 

Lots of new sewing and embroidery machines!!!

This conference is all about all new things for Singer and Husqvarna Viking as well, but the icon 3 is the big draw. Today is all about training and education for the staff, and tomorrow is the big day when we see dealers and their staff. 

Then it was back to the room, and I decided I had time to rip out those stitches that I didn't like. I got all three designs ripped out, and I hope to find a few minutes and the proper hoop to restitch them later today. Actually, I only had to remove the stems from the flowers - the actual flowers were fine. 

Ripping out stitches in the hotel room

Then we had some snacks in the hotel dining area, but snacks are not enough for me. I was trying to be very good, so I drank plenty of water at restaurants and tried to eat healthy. I was on my own for dinner and struck out to eat in a place right beside The Diner. The Pancake Pantry is not open in the evening. 

This was quite the place (Champy's) with all the lights, and the food was decent, but dressing on the side, please!!! Thankfully, I asked for that because they brought me two small tubs of dressing. 

Dinner at Champy's

I spotted this on the menu, but I didn't have any!!!!

Sweet stuff at Champy's

And then back to the hotel. OH MY GOD -- the one thing I forgot, and I keep forgetting, is my darn toothbrush. Seriously? I need a dedicated travel bag of toiletries, as I've done this so many times that I don't know why it doesn't register with me. So I had to put my shoes on, and I was getting tired at this point, but I went downstairs, where I got two tubes of toothpaste - I have some in my luggage, but couldn't find it and my very flimsy but serviceable toothbrush. 

Well, it's time to get this edited. Be sure to look back on the post with my upcoming class information. I had said to not send me emails before August 1, but I see some people sent me emails yesterday. So guess what -- send me the emails, and I'll just sort them here, and that is OK. I see that Out of Hand is sold out of the pattern, but if someone calls them, they can order more! I'll send them an email. Be sure to include the class name in the subject line, as it makes it much easier for me to sort them when creating distribution lists. 

I just emailed Out of Hand about the 40 Shades of Grey pattern. If you contact them ASAP, they can place an order from Australia or wherever they buy them, which will be more efficient. If you let them know you want a pattern, they can place an order and get one for you. 

So yesterday was an interesting travel day, and it could have been a total disaster. But thankfully, it all worked out. No one yelled, no one panicked, and all is good!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Anything is possible if you believe in yourself!

OMG—I am stunned, and I'm exhausted. But I managed to finish everything I planned on getting done! If I had had that extra day, I might have finished the two samples I knew I had run out of time for! 

I'm thrilled to death. Did it help that I started listening to a hilarious detective story? I don't know, but whenever I was doing something mindless, I listened to the book, and it helped to keep me on track. 

Let me share the samples that are done. 

You already saw this sample - it's the tablet case, but I had to saturate the front flap to get rid of the water-soluble stabilizer. That resulted in some creative drying, but not before I used a towel to absorb most of the moisture. I tidied up the inside, and it is stitched back together. 

Drying the table case

I must admit that it took me a bit to get started this morning. I just saw everything that had to be done today as a daunting task, and I really didn't feel like getting anything done. But then I opened up my tea bag and looked at the quote. 

My motivator for the day!

That was my incentive to get myself together, get downstairs, and get to work! 

The first thing I had to do was to remove all the excess water-soluble stabilizer from the linen table runner. 

Removing the excess stabilizer from the table runner

That was a very time-consuming job as I didn't want to cut the linen. And I was able to remove most of the errant stitching I had done, and there was no need to fix it after those stitches were removed. 

Then I threw this and the napkin (thanks Elle and Torry) into the washer to get rid of the excess stabilizer. 

Then I ironed the napkin again, and it looks stunning. That darn thing just doesn't want to photograph well. 

The napkin

Here's a close-up of one of the flowers. I'm very happy with this. 

A close-up of the napkin

Next up was to work on the zippered pouch. It went together like a hot knife through butter, and I'm very happy with the results. That flower (the same as on the tablet case) is on both sides. 

My zippered pouch

Here's the inside of it. 

The inside of the zippered pouch

I like to make a box corner on the bottom of my pouches, but I was working with a smaller piece of denim, and there wasn't really extra space. So I decided to round the bottom corners, which gives a much nicer look than square corners on a flat pouch. 

Guess what I used to round the corners? My new corner tool. It worked like a charm, and I was able to use my rotary cutter on it. I am a VERY HAPPY customer. I love it!!!! I will definitely be using this a lot!

Rounding the corners with the corner ruler

OH - -I also got the cuffs on the shirt, and it got hemmed. But when I went to put the pearl snaps on it, there was no tool in the snap boxes. That was a separate tool. So back to the fabric store, and they didn't have any!! I looked at other tools for grommets, eyelets, and other fasteners, but none looked like the one I needed. There is no time to get frustrated - as I stood chatting with the salesperson, my mind was already moving ahead. I will wear the shirt as a jacket, and I have a great belt to wear with it! No problem. Let's just move on. 

Then it was time to tackle that linen table runner. I must say that I have been avoiding working on it, and I don't know why. The fear of the unknown? How does one hem a table runner nicely? Well, I sort of had an idea, and so I just went for it. And here is the table runner. It's about 25" wide, so about 50- 60 inches long.

The linen table runner

While it has a few peculiarities, I'm very happy with it overall. I love working with that linen, and I have ideas for something else. That was supposed to be the linen for a wedding outfit, which didn't happen. But now I can use it for something else, and it's beautiful to work with. But this runner does need to be washed again. The water-soluble stabilizer that remains is keeping it nice and stiff, but not too stiff. 

The hem turned out nice - I hemmed it towards the back and mitered the corners - of course I did. That is the mark of a quality table linen. 

I had some experimenting to do with the embroidery machine, and I got it done and figured it out. This was the only area where I wasn't happy with my initial results. Well, when I did things a bit differently, it came out beautiful, but I learned a thing about using different types of fabric for the base. Let's just say that denim with spandex is not easy to use! I must make myself some notes on that technique when I'm back home. 

By this time, it was about 7 PM, and there remained ONE last item to be quilted and bound. Without so much as a second's hesitation, I set up the PFAFF icon 2 for free-motion quilting. The piece isn't that big, so it didn't take that long, and the binding was already made, although I had to add one more strip. And VOILA - the last piece is completed!

My wall hanging is complete!

As for unfinished stuff? I prepped the one item that I want to quilt, and if I get a chance, I'll do it at the show. If not, it's ready to do when I get home. There is one small wall hanging that I need to embellish further, and my success with my experimenting tonight means that I have some ripping to do and then I can redo that part on my shirt. WAIT - that's a different shirt than the one I made. This stitching was on a ready-made shirt. Oh shoot -- I need to throw that thread in my bag in case I get a chance to do it at the show. I will NOT have time to do anything - I know that, but just in case. 

The suitcase is packed even with my clothes. The only thing missing are the toiletries, and it all fits in one suitcase, which doesn't weigh that much. yeah!!!!! 

I've written two blog posts - the one with the classes is below this one, so be sure to go there and check it out. 

And as I left Studio B tonight, look at this. 

The cutting table is clear!

The cutting table is bare!!!!! Now if I can only figure out how to keep it that way! 

And here are the work tables. 

The machines are all put to bed for five days.

The stuff on the left is what I have to put away when I get back. I was too exhausted to make that happen tonight. Yes -- I am writing the blog the night before because I won't have time in the morning. 

We had several tornado warnings today, and it appears that one of them occurred about 3 KM from my house! WAIT --- when I look at the images again, someone says it's in Milton, which is about 10 KM away. Let's say that it was relatively close. The dogs were freaking out as the alarms went off on the TV and on our phones. 

But this was the sky when I went out later, and we got a lot of torrential downpour. 

The stormy sky

And can you tell me what Lexi is up to? Her hind legs are BLACK. I suspect she is digging under the shed and then she gets covered in dirt. She seems to like it! 

MOM - I'm a dog - I get dirty!

Well, on that note, I'm out of here. I have an early-morning flight, and I should be on a good schedule for the rest of the week to post the blog. I can share with you all the fun stuff that is happening where I am headed. I don't think I mentioned where I am going. If I did, then it's not a surprise; if I didn't, then it will be a surprise!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!!



PS --- Had trouble falling asleep, so I got up and worked on the puzzle. I was either too exhausted or too excited. Here's what got done. 

 

Classes for Fall 2026 and Winter of 2027

 Here is all the information for the classes. If something seems amiss, then let me know. I may decide to run a couple of one-time classes, and if you have anything in mind, please let me know --- elainetheriault@gmail.com. 

I'm thinking of a users' class for the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 for starters. 

For this first class, I'm waiting for confirmation that it will be run through Thimbles and Things. A SNAFU with email on my part. If this changes, I will let you know. 

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Sign-up for this class will be through the Thimbles and Things website. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter so you’ll know when they open registration later this summer, as the class is limited to 99 people.

https://www.thimblesandthings.com/

Making scrap quilts beautiful!

(hosted by Thimbles and Things)

Dates: September 19, October 24, November 28, December 19, January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 26

Time: 9:30 AM EST for ONE hour on Zoom

Participation: While attendance isn’t mandatory, and the sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time if you can’t make the class date, please don’t use that as an excuse to only view the recordings. You won’t be able to ask questions, and if you aren’t in attendance, you can’t participate in the show-and-tell.

Skill Level: ALL

Homework: While you don’t need to make a quilt each month (think of a wall hanging or lap quilt if you do), it would be very beneficial if you organize your scraps and share your ideas for sorting and storage with the group.

Description: We’ll be investigating how scraps are generated, how small or large the scraps should be, how to store them, and what to make with them. Each month we’ll cover some great tips and tricks for scraps, including transforming “ugly” scrap quilts into beautiful works of art! BONUS: each month you’ll get several patterns/techniques/styles to help use up your scraps!

I love scrap quilts, and there will be loads of show-and-tell, which means loads of inspiration!

WAIT – you don’t have scraps? I’ll also be sharing how to make scrappy quilts with your stash!

Sign-ups for the next four classes will be via email to me directly. I will start accepting emails on August 1. No need to forward funds at the moment -- just be sure to send a separate email for each class. Please put the title of the class in the subject. That is how I search and file the emails. 

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Show and Tell

(hosted by Elaine Theriault)

 

Dates: September 12, October 17, November 14, December 12, January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12

Time: 9:30 AM EST for ONE hour on Zoom

Cost: $50 for all 10 sessions

Participation: While attendance isn’t mandatory, the sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time if you can’t make the class date. Please don’t use that as an excuse to only view the recordings. You won’t be able to ask questions, and if you aren’t in attendance, you can’t participate in the show-and-tell. If you sign up, I would like to see at least the wall hanging from each of you!

Skill Level: ALL

Pattern: Show and Tell by Elizabeth Hartman (many sources to purchase online, or support your local quilt shop if they have a copy)

Size: 75” by 85” (there is also a smaller version, 45” by 57”, or make a wall hanging from one block (24” by 28”)

Homework: Each month, you’ll be assigned one or more blocks from the quilt pattern. The final show-and-tell will be in June 2027.

Description: These forest creatures are super cute and just waiting to show your precious small quilts! The focus of the class, besides having fun, is to improve your accuracy. You’ll learn the efficiency of cutting fabric, and there will be plenty of tips for accurately cutting the many pieces, pressing to reduce bulk, and sewing.  

This will be a good scrap buster quilt, although you may want to purchase one fabric for the background.

I have not checked the yardage amounts yet, but a quick check indicates the required amount seems reasonable.

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40 Shades of Grey

(hosted by Elaine Theriault)

 

Dates: September 12, October 17, November 14, December 12, January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12

Time: 11:00 AM EST for ONE hour on Zoom

Cost: $50 for all 10 sessions

Participation: While attendance isn’t mandatory, the sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time if you can’t make the class date. Please don’t use that as an excuse to only view the recordings. You won’t be able to ask questions, and if you aren’t in attendance, you can’t participate in the show-and-tell.

Skill Level: ALL

Pattern: 40 Shades of Grey (although you can purchase this pattern directly from Wendy Williams, the shipping from Australia might be prohibitive. There are Canadian shops that sell the patterns)

https://outofhandquilting.com/products/40-shades-of-grey-pattern-book-by-wendy-williams

Size: 84.5” by 84.5”

Homework: Each month, you’ll be assigned one or more blocks from the quilt pattern. The final show-and-tell will be in June 2027.

Description: There are loads of sewing and applique techniques in this quilt. I will be selecting techniques starting with the easier ones and working our way to the more complex ones.

This will be a good scrap buster quilt, although you may want to purchase one fabric for the background. And we’ll look at ways to make this quilt a bit more cohesive.

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My Kinda Town

(hosted by Elaine Theriault)

 

Dates: September 19, October 24, November 28, December 19

Time: 11:000 AM EST for ONE hour on Zoom

Cost: $25 for all 4 sessions

Participation: While attendance isn’t mandatory, the sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time if you can’t make the class date. Please don’t use that as an excuse to only view the recordings. You won’t be able to ask questions, and if you aren’t in attendance, you can’t participate in the show-and-tell. If you sign up, I would like to see at least the wall hanging from each of you!

Skill Level: ALL (preferably if you are familiar with paper piecing)

Pattern: My Kinda Town (Peggy Larson for Fiberworks) (many sources to purchase online, or support your local quilt shop if they have a copy)

Size: 42” by 54”

Homework: Each month, you’ll be assigned multiple blocks from the quilt pattern. The final show-and-tell will be in December 2026.

Description: Build a funky town in your favorite colors. Customize those buildings with names or landscape fabrics. Various tools for paper piecing will be discussed, as will the freezer paper method and a hybrid of traditional and freezer paper.

This will be a good scrap buster quilt.  

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Wool Applique

(hosted by Elaine Theriault)

Dates: January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17

Time: 11:00 AM EST for ONE hour on Zoom

Cost: $25 for all 4 sessions

Participation: While attendance isn’t mandatory, the sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time if you can’t make the class date. Please don’t use that as an excuse to only view the recordings. You won’t be able to ask questions, and if you aren’t in attendance, you can’t participate in the show-and-tell. If you sign up, I would like to see at least one square from each of you!

Skill Level: ALL

Pattern: Kits are available for purchase at a reasonable cost directly from Wonderfil. There are many more than the ones shown above. Note that each image is actually FOUR kits – they have combined four kits in each photo. I am working on a price for the kits and a sample thread pack. Alternatively, you can use wool scraps and DMC or Perle Cotton threads if you wish. I will provide more information on the kits and sample thread pack once you sign up.

Size: 6” square

Homework: Each month, we’ll explore the ins and outs of hand applique using wool! Supplies (wool and threads), stitches, transferring designs, and finishing will be covered. The final show-and-tell will be in April 2027.

Description: These kits are a great way to be introduced to wool applique without a huge expense. The kits are pre-cut, so you will only buy what you need, and there will be no leftovers. A very economical way to experiment with wool applique.