It's all about control

I was busy prepping my presentation yesterday and some other urgent work, so there was no time to listen to that remaining bit of the page-turner audiobook. So this morning, as I loaded the next customer quilt, I got back to it. But then it's time to get the day started, and I have 17 minutes left. How is that for control? 

I'll probably finish while walking the girls this morning. All I can say is the author has a twisted mind. The plot keeps twisting at every page (or so it seems), and I almost feel like I need to go back and reread it. Yikes!! I'll have to get her other books. This is Paula Hawkins. She also wrote The Girl on the Train, which I've read. All I can say is that most of these psychological thrillers relate to twisted family ties. Need I say more! 

Thanks to Gwen, who pointed out the "weeding" tool I discovered on one of my GO dies is, in fact -- well, it's a sort of weeder. It's meant to pull the fabric bits out of the dies, making sense. The fabric stuck in the slots on the dies when I used it the other day, and the weeding tool didn't click until Gwen mentioned it. 

A weeding tool for the GO! cutter

So when I was teaching my applique class the other day, I took the cutter in case people wanted to cut some shapes.

Using the GO! cutter

Because I'm frugal, I have a box of leftover fabric bits that have fusible on the back. I run them through the cutter to cut small flowers, hearts, or circles. They are great practice bits for classes. 

Bits to be trimmed down into shapes for applique

And here's my box of shapes - ready to applique. 

Completed shapes!

Yes -- I know that's a piddly little job and who can be bothered? But I enjoy that kind of puttering, and I think that kind of puttering is what keeps me sane. If I'm always rushing to the next bigger and better job or fabric, my brain has no time to sit back and deal with the mundane. I think our brains need the ordinary to recharge! If we're always GO GO GO, it's not good. At least not for me. 

Here's another example of control. I saw this gorgeous collection of fabric when I was at K&A, and I decided to think about it rather than rush and have them cut one meter of everything, which I've been known to do in the past. 

Gorgeous fabric collection

Look at those vibrant colors. That makes me very happy, and this is the kind of thing that I'm more attracted to than cutesy tiny prints or big flower prints, and I like the monochromatic stuff with vibrant colors. What a change from when I first started to quilt! 

More of the collection

This is the name of the collection, in case you are wondering. 

The name of the collection

I may still get some, but I've decided that until I have a specific quilt to use it in, I'm NOT going to buy it. I do NOT need it -- I have lots of other fabrics that make me happy, and I should make those fabrics happy by using them up! Then I can get more! 

What would make me really happy is to ditch a ton of fabric in that stash room that will likely never be used. And I will do that -- it will get donated to the community projects pile, but I have so much ahead of me that I want to get some of that caught up first. Then color by color, I'll go through my baskets. That will be a traumatic experience, but if I start with one basket at a time -- it will be done! When it's time to downsize, I'll have practically nothing but UFOs! And quilts to quilt! 

I have a small bag of bodkins that I use with the serger when I want to tuck the end of a seam into itself. The bag had been "lost" for a long time, and I had no idea where I had placed the bag as I am usually very good about putting things back where they belong. 

So when I taught the applique class the other day, I pulled two demo boxes off my shelf. One for applique, the other for fusible. As I unpacked the boxes and sorted through them when I got home, guess what I found? YEP  - that little bag of bodkins!!! I've been using a yarn needle, which works, but I wanted these metal ones. 

My metal bodkins are FOUND! 

The bag is sitting on the ironing board right now as I contemplate a new location for it. Where I used to have it isn't really a logical place. I should put it with the serger tools as that is when I use it most. Or do I put it in my hand stitching needle box? I've got to contemplate that a wee bit. 

My sad little tulip garden! But I've got blooms, so the rabbits and squirrels didn't get everything. I'd better enjoy it as this garden won't be there next year! More on that coming up in a couple of weeks. 

My tulip garden

When I moved that desk in the office, there was room to put the SECOND of two toy boxes on the floor for Murphy. I know -- she doesn't need two, but she has two. Lexi couldn't care about toys if her life depended on them. Too juvenile. 

Within minutes, this is what the toybox looked like. 

Murphy's toyboxes

Yep -- I heard Murphy ruffling around in there and pulling stuff out. She is not content unless there is a mess. 

Speaking of Murphy, the rest of today is all about her. I now -- I'm catering to her ego! She's cute, and she knows it!!

Pinecones are dropping, and she adores carrying them around. And not just one -- but she managed to scoop two of them the other day. This is nothing, as I've seen her carry 5 around at once. Oh, Murphy!!!

Murphy and her pinecones

The next couple of pictures are ones that I snapped when she was trying to find her ball that I successfully threw into the bushes. This is her FAVORITE activity. 

WHOA --- who put that tree there? 

MOM -- I can't find the ball

OH - it's in there -- I'll get it

Mom -- I'm caught in the bushes - help!

Mom -- I won't fall in the pond - I'm very nimble

MOM -- I'm exhausted. Let's do it again! 

And then she goes and sits in a muddy spot near the pond, and she is happy! 

The perfect muddy spot for Murphy!

I had a big adventure yesterday, which you will hear about tomorrow. I know -- why do I do that to you? 

I had to pop into the dollar store on my walk yesterday. This store is very close to two high schools, and I am sure that the mall and all the shops in this area must HATE their location because of the high schools. I was standing in the line for the self-checkout when two boys with backpacks came from the opposite direction. Excuse me! Excuse me! OK -- so at least they were polite. 

Next thing you know, Excuse me! Excuse me! as they pushed through to the front of the line. What the heck is going on? OH -- so two other friends were waiting at the self-checkout. 

There was a tiny woman as the attendant, and she reamed them out for holding that self-checkout hostage while the other two went off to get whatever. So the four boys crowd around the self-checkout with their backpacks and chattering away. I was ringing my stuff through, and I heard them get ready to leave. The small woman demanded to see their receipt! I was very impressed with her! 

As I was leaving, about 20 other kids entered the store -- all with backpacks. I can only imagine how much gets lifted in that particular store. 

What are they buying? Well, I would guess it's not kitchen stuff! They sell a ton of junk food at this dollar store -- chips, chocolate bars, pop, and I suspect that is what they are buying. 

Why they installed self-checkouts at this location is beyond me, as it sounds like a recipe for disaster for the bottom line. I'd also get rid of the junk food, but have you noticed how huge that junk food section is? 

I must remember to NOT go near any stores when school lets out. I've seen some stores limit the number of students that can be in the store at a time. 

And when I popped into Indigo (book store), there was a service dog getting some training. I didn't stop to watch, but those two dogs were so well behaved! Now, if only Murphy had one smidgen of their control! 

There is a lot on the agenda today, and I've got to get myself organized to make it all happen. And this weekend which was supposed to be quiet, is now jammed with activities all day, both days! But that's OK. There is an end to the chaos -- I hope. I keep saying that it does ease up, and then the deadlines come back again. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Get on the GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to zip out of the house yesterday.  M and I were taking the GO train downtown. Of course she wasn't ready at 8:30 as we had agreed on.  I knew there was going to be traffic on the way to the station, we were going to have to park the car and I had to buy a ticket. M has used the GO on numerous occasions so she has a Presto card.  We were lucky and found a parking near the entrance to the station, grabbed our bags (I left my jacket in the car - she did not) and ran to the ticket agent.

Thank God M knew exactly where we were going. She told the ticket agent what we wanted - I threw money at the agent - I could not even tell you if it was a man or a woman. They said the train just arrived. Oh CRAP - we grabbed our stuff and ran up the stairs to the platform and JUST MADE THE TRAIN!!   My heart was pounding and I still had my wallet in my hand. We found seats and then got ourselves organized. I HATE HATE HATE cutting things that close.

Anyway - I have to say that going downtown on the GO is a very civilized way to go.  No traffic, no stop and start, no worries about finding a parking spot and it was fast!!!!!!   I used to take public transit all the time when I lived in Montreal and yes - I get that you are stuck to their schedule, but really - for the sake of arriving relaxed - I think I might have to think of the GO train more often except that I don't go downtown often.

There is construction EVERYWHERE in this city.  Not only on the major highways leading into Toronto, but the downtown is crazy as well. 

The entrance to Union Station

Ah - get on the GO - so relaxed as long as you don't have to RUN for the train

M - on the way home 

Even parking for bikes

We caught the 9:06 train. And the traffic was way backed up on the highway as we merrily rolled on by!!!!!   Once we got to Union Station, M guided us to the right subway line.  Helps to have Google Maps and to have taken the subway system before.

We hopped off at the right station and then I took over.  Here we were at the Textile Museum of Canada.

Textile Museum of Canada

And we were there because????   It was the ANNUAL - NOT just a yardsale!!!!!!!!!!!   The sale started at 11, and we got there just before 10.  I know - did not take long to get there!!!!!!    Way faster than the car and probably cheaper when you factor in everything.


So we had an hour to kill. Let's plan the strategy. First we got into the line. Oh yes - there is ALWAYS a line.   And see those cars on the right hand side - some of the people in the line belonged to those cars. I wonder what time they got there????

The start of the line - even though we arrived at 10 - it was already forming.  Can you see M - third person from the end -in brown tank top. Oh yes - did I mention that she did NOT leave her jacket in the car - so guess who had to put the jacket in the backpack to carry for the rest of the day?????   Yep - that would be ME!!!!!!!!!!

And the line grew and grew

And the line continued to grow!!!!!!!!

While we were waiting - we needed to strategize cause it was going to get ugly!!!!   While M waited in line, I scouted out the sale. Don't worry - I did NOT violate any presale rules!!!!

The upholstery fabric

The quilting fabric

Other fabric and tools

Yarn

AHA - notice the sign - 2nd floor - books, buttons and beads.

Back to chat with M - where should we go first?????   We decided to hit the 2nd floor first. Probably more stuff that we would be interested in there so as soon as the line started to move -we hussled our butts up the stairs.

M found a couple of books, and so did I. There was NO ONE looking through the books when I went through them. I was FIRST and good thing because some lady tracked me down to ask about one of the books I got.  A catalogue of Welsh quilts. Nothing too spectacular in the books, but a couple of neat finds.

My books

 Then we split up to see what else was there. Digging through the quilting bins was a slow process. You could only access the bins from one side so we had to wait.  Well I found these kits and I was laughing!!!!!

The kit on the left is an older Thimbleberry (2006) kit. There is enough fabric in each to make two blocks (12 inch I think) and each one was $2 - this slightly bigger one was $3.  I got SIX of them - all I could find. Then I found the kit on the right - By Stitch Connection.  I had to laugh because this is the same pattern that I am embroidering!!!!!!

The pattern in the kit I bought - it is applique

The pattern I am embroidering - same designer

The patterns themselves are very cute, but I never liked the layout of the embroidery one. Once the blocks were done - I was going to figure out a new layout. Well I LOVE the layout of the pieced one and well it is already figured out!!!!!!!!!!!!    Plus I can make an applique one as well.  I picked up a few odd pieces of fabric, but nothing great.  There was a lot of stuff, but nothing that caught my fancy.

One lady was shopping for a queen sized quilt and was buying it all from the yard sale and other sales.  Oh boy - good luck with that!!!!!!!

Lots and lots of beads, charms and other baubles!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Could have gone totally crazy, but we didn't. M acquired her own stash!!!!!!!!!

In the odds and ends tent outside, I found these two treasures.   Do you know what that is on the left????   An embroidery hoop - how cool is that. I've never seen that shape before and I LOVE IT!!!!!!    The roll on the right is reflective tape.   I was going to make a vest of reflective tape for cycling.  Neil had one last year and I thought he had purchased it. Nope he fashioned it out of reflective strapping that he purchased at MEC. Well I paid $5 for this entire roll. I think I have enough to make a vest!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once we were done with the yardsale - we went into the gift shop - one of my favourite. There are so many treasures. I just love it. Well we found a couple of goodies and while we were waiting in line, the lady in front of us was purchasing an orange bracelet. Oh my - I WANT that. Her friend says - oh orange is my friend's favourite colour.  I had to laugh because neither of us had anything orange on and my orange backpack was checked in at the front desk, but at least I had my orange wallet to prove my point!!!!!  

Bracelet is gorgeous - $10!!!!!!!!   Couldn't let that stay in the gift shop!!!!!

After having lunch downtown and I "splurged" and had an Orange pop, we walked back to Union Station with our bags.  Did I mention that we each bought three books and a couple of magazines and they are HEAVY??????

Our timing was bang on yesterday. Again, M guided us through the maze of Union Station and arrived at the platform as the train opened its doors.  OK - the transit gods were on our side yesterday.  We were back at the parking lot and in the car before we knew it.

I just the idea of this little kids seat on the front of the bike.  Good thing I wasn't into cycling when M was a baby or we would have had one!!!!!!!!!!

We stopped in Streetsville for ice cream on the way home and THAT place is under construction as well. It is everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Then we had company. Guess who.......................

MILO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Sammy and Milo are in love. They have been chasing each other up and down the upstairs hall all morning. When I went to get them to go for a walk, their tongues were hanging out!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Pretty funny and very cute.


On that note - I am teaching all day so I had better get the rest of my stuff organized.


Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!