Progress On Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

Oh wow -- Barbie clothes from stretch fabric! That's a cool idea, and I have a whole bunch of leftovers from making T-shirts. Brand new, it would be an excellent way to get rid of that basket of scraps! Love the idea. 

So I didn't quite finish what I planned yesterday, but I did sit down and PLAN the two samples I need to make, and the fabric is ready, so all I have to do today is stitch them out. It should NOT take long. OK -- you can stop laughing now. 

I have two classes this weekend; one is ready to go, and the other needs one block sewn. Plus making those two samples. I have two days. It should be fine, since nothing is complicated. 

But what I did work on turned out amazing! But first - I needed to pack for the upcoming trip. Thankfully, it's by car, so I can manage as many suitcases as I need. 

I had been "hoarding" samples on this table, which was tucked in the back of Studio B. Rather than take them upstairs after Salon Quebec, I separated them when I unpacked from that trip. It was time to get serious about packing, so I brought the table out. 

Samples hidden in the back of Studio B

I moved the samples to the kitchen. 

I moved the samples to the kitchen.

Suitcases were brought down from upstairs, and voilà, the samples were packed. The kitchen is neat as a pin, although DH seems to like leaving a few things on his box on the kitchen table! I must move that stuff back to his office! 

The kitchen is neat as a pin!

I have one more table in Studio B with some samples that need finishing. They are perfectly good as-is, but it would look prettier if some samples were bound; others need their edges serged, and so on. I planned to work on one a day, but that thought quickly slipped my mind, so I had to rifle through the pile and pull what I needed. 

I transferred the rest to the table I had just emptied (minus the green bucket) and put the empty table away. 

One table less in Studio B

I still have a bucket of things for the Momento to sort through, and I might do a quick sample or two. I decided to pack early (two days) so that, if I'm walking and remember something, I still have time to pack it. If not, I have more than enough to keep the groups entertained. 

This is the bucket with Momento projects, and I also need to go through it and get some more samples done, but only if I have a chance. I already have loads of samples. 

The bucket with things for the Momento

Now that the table holding the samples is out, the rest of the crap that I had put on the floor was exposed. 

Well, it was, but I quickly found homes for some of the things in the stash room. 

This space is now clear.

And the rest went under this table.

More stuff to deal with another day

OK -- so some of it went on the table as well. I'm not a fan, but I wanted it off the floor. I know I have a serious problem with the quantity of things, and I'm trying to clear it up, but it's a serious situation. Only more time will help me. Of course, not starting anything new will also help, and little by little, I'm whittling those things away. Believe it or not, I'm making progress, and that's all I'll say about that. 

I think rearranging the "current" project tables will help. One table contains the projects for the classes I am currently teaching or the UFOs I'm working on for the Visual To-Do list. The table beside it has items on the Visual To-Do list that I likely won't get to this year, so they will be ready for next year. I plan to complete most of the things on that one table before the end of the year. Then I'll shuffle things around for next year. I know you are saying that will never happen, but they are for classes and UFOs that are on my list to complete this year, so it HAS to happen. 

It's a constant battle. Don't worry - I have a system. 

Speaking of battles in Studio B, have a look at this one. I swear it still boggles my mind why this block never got completed. 

I decided to take a detour and work on this Desdren Plate block. I used my little freezer paper template to turn under the curved top edge. Then I sewed FIVE blades together to make a quarter circle (what a concept!).

Next, I measured it to see if it made a quarter circle. And guess what? A perfect 90-degree angle on that corner!!! It couldn't have been more perfect!! What a dolt I can be sometimes, but we have no time to berate ourselves for being silly; let's get the block together. 

A perfect 90-degree corner

See how pretty the block is, and it was a snap to sew those exposed side seams together without touching the turned-under edge. 

Looks amazing to me!

I used the freezer paper template TWENTY times, so that was a bonus. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Freezer paper stickiness lasts much longer than most people think. Now, if I were doing paper piecing with freezer paper, it may not last twenty times, but for appliqué? I've used it at least twenty times for the same shape in other projects. The template is gone, by the way. 

The freezer paper template

I was going to stop because I had other work to do, but I was on a roll, and I made the next quarter and sewed it into a half. And yes --- the next quarter was perfect as well. I was getting excited and did the next quarter, which I also added. The remaining opening looked too small to accept the final quarter, but I forged ahead, and before I knew it, the entire circle was together. And it was PERFECTLY flat. What are the chances of that? 

The back of the Dresden Plate

I quickly got the background square and laid it on. I was ready to glue it and then stitch it last night, but of course, the tip of my glue bottle was clogged, badly. I was lazy and tried boiling water only. But that didn't work, so I took my Manitoba friend's advice, boiled more water, and added some vinegar; it took some convincing, but the glue finally dissolved. By then, it was late, so I left the gluing and stitching until later today. 

The front of the Dresden Plate block

I have one more prepped block (EPP), and I'm deciding whether to stitch it by hand or by machine. Hmmm --- I might do it by machine. 

That will complete the unfinished blocks on two of the four pages in the index. Going forward, I decided to start at the top of page three and work through the unfinished blocks in order. I looked at the block -- OH -- I see why some of these got left to the end! Curved pieces and Y-seams. I'm so excited, I can hardly wait! 

But a little bit each day and these blocks WILL get done! 

I decided to work on a small embroidery project last night. That just seemed to go wrong from the get-go. I put the stabilizer and the fabric in the hoop and popped it on the machine. I had skimmed the instructions, but didn't really pay attention. The first fabric I placed for appliqué was cotton with raw edges, so I probably should've changed that, and I did. 

The second time, I used felt so the edges wouldn't fray and stitched it again, but I didn't realize the far end of the fabric got caught, so I just cut around it. 

The top fabric got caught in the embroidery.

Then I reread the instructions and OH CRAP, the first heart was supposed to be encased in plastic, with some sparkly things under the plastic (and on top of the first heart), so I was right the first time. Sigh......

That's why you should NOT listen to an audiobook and try to do something new. It is NOT a big deal as it's just a fun little project. 

I went ahead with it as-is, and this is the result. 

My embroidery

I might just remake this - I'm not a fan of the thread colors. This time, I'll do the heart correctly, and this small project can become a mini pillow or something else. These small embroideries are on my visual To-Do list, so I must get them done this year. 

I don't know what's happened to the girls, but they sniff so much on walks that it feels like we are out twice as long. Even Murphy is sniffing like mad. It must be all the squirrels. 

MOM -- these smells are important!

I took them for a walk together to the drug store in the afternoon. I swear they never walked side by side. 

Where are the dogs?

Wait -- they did walk together enough for me to grab one picture. We have to cross a major street to get to the drug store, and I'm sure people get a laugh watching these two lunatics pull me across. 

MOM - we can walk side by side when we want to!

They were NOT happy to be left outside the drugstore, but it was only for a minute. Then I had to wait for DH's prescription to be filled, so we had some good discussions while we waited together outside. The weather here could not be more beautiful. It's warm, sunny, and just glorious days!!!

Hanging out at the drugstore

And what can I say, the girls love the sun in the front room. Murphy is back to hanging out in her bed, which is nice to see. Although she still has trouble with her hind legs, she can jump up and down. We don't encourage it, but we don't say no either. This is her favorite spot in the house.  

MOM - I'm back on guard duty!!!

Lexi, the cautious one, doesn't like the bed, but she will sleep on the mat in front of it. But never at the same time. They just don't like to sleep close together, which is very unusual for two dogs. Well, our two dogs. 

MOM - I like the floor!

The dogs get a daily supplement that goes into their food dishes. That darn Lexi will eat the supplement and leave her food until later. She is such a picky eater, and that's from DH's training and food scraps from the table. Then when she bugs him, he swats her away. Well, you did this!!! 

Lexi will eat her supplement and leave the food until later.

I had a great workout at the gym on my own yesterday. I'm getting back into the swing of things there and not afraid to make myself work hard. And I felt like a million bucks when I left. I am even trying to find another day to get back there. In total, it takes two hours from the time I leave until I get back home, and I'd love to go Saturday morning, but I don't really have time every week if I have to teach in the morning. 

I'm back today to work out with Brooke. The weight is where I want it, and hopefully we'll see some change in the fat content now that I've eliminated most refined sugar from my diet. It didn't happen overnight, and it will take time to get rid of it. But I'm determined!!!

Well, it's going to be another exciting day, and let's see what I can get done on those Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks. WAIT -- I must get the homework block and the sample done first!!! 

Have a super day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!