Learning is so much fun!

 

Another GREAT day - I hear rumors that our temporary pandemic closures might be lifted this weekend. That means we can get back to the gym next week - observing all safety protocols, of course! I can't wait except that I won't be around next week for the spin class. I'll be leaving for my sewing retreat with our small bubble of people. I can't wait!

Two more great presentations yesterday! It's so refreshing to actually do the presentation and not worry about the internet going down. And the fact that most of the presentations are totally organized with files on the shared server, samples made, and an agenda written out, I don't have to run around like an idiot to assemble everything. 

December will be a major planning month as I have a ton of samples that I want to make. I've been messing around with the software as well, and OH BOY - the things you can do with the embroidery software, and I've only scratched the surface. I need to place a major thread order, so I'll be good come December. I love the new software! Did I mention that the file I created yesterday has almost 500 THOUSAND stitches in it? Yes - 476,000 or something outrageous! And am I going to stitch it out? You bet! It's all a learning process! I wonder how many DAYS that will take. Not days, but it's going to take a long time. Thankfully I have a couple of machines that will let me do that. 

BUT WAIT - there's something new coming out next year. I see the information is on the website, so that means I can share it with you. There's a NEW PFAFF creative icon coming. It's called the creative icon 2. Now here's the thing - when we were at a training session last January, I suggested what I wanted in a sewing machine. I'm sure this new feature did NOT come from my comment, but guess what? There is speech recognition, and it talks to ALEXA and Google. Oh - I want one. NOW. This is very exciting, and I think we're going to see a whole lot more of this high-tech stuff coming in the future. Imagine being at the cutting table and asking ALEXA how much longer the embroidery has to stitch? 

Seriously, there is so much NEW in the sewing machine world. I couldn't be happier. Here's the new mySewnet account webpage. Loads of stuff to contemplate there. 

But - if you're not into the fancy stuff, there's loads of good stuff at the regular level as well. If you have a PFAFF and want to learn more about using your fancy stitches, check out the Facebook Live event tomorrow. Here's a link to the trailer. Karen is the BEST educator in the market. She's creative, and she'll show you how to perform crazy stuff with decorative stitches. DO NOT MISS it. It will be taped so you can watch it later. Even if you don't have a PFAFF, I suggest that you watch - you WILL learn something from Karen. And she's so much fun!

I spent the afternoon doing logistical stuff. Booked an electrician to fix the power line that runs to the gazebo that the rabbits or the opossum ate last year. Called someone to come and repair the garage roof, booked an appointment to visit the bank and stuff like that. I'm still way behind in e-mails and invoices and ordering stuff, and I hope to get to some of that this afternoon. 

I went for a long walk yesterday, and it was glorious! I popped into Indigo, and I see that the 100 Modern Blocks Book for the ongoing class next year is still there!!! So if someone wants this book - call the Indigo at Erin Mills. 

100 Modern Blocks by Tula Pink

Then I was off to the grocery store where I bought the fudge mix to make my Bear Paw cookies. I'm going to make them at the retreat, so I just need to find the peanuts and the candy kisses. I'll head to the mall to get those at the Bulk Barn. Perhaps a mission for today. 

And the last stop was the library. I forgot to put the books on suspend for this month, and FIVE new books came in. Oh boy! I'm in trouble. The biggest issue is the book I'm currently reading is so weird that I'm not enjoying it. I know that I should abandon it, but I don't usually do that, and I would always wonder what happened. That's two duds in a row - I wonder how that happened? 


So we have Murphy! She's - well, she's Murphy. She LOVES to play ball and loves to drop her ball into the gap in the deck. And then expects us to get it for her. Why? It's a narrow gap, so she's doing it intentionally. And if I'm not sure there's a ball under the deck? I use my phone to view under the deck through the gap. No ball this time, Murph! 

The view under the deck

But isn't that cool to use the camera to see somewhere where you can't? I just have to make sure that I don't drop the phone because I wouldn't easily retrieve it in some of the spots. 

I got a bit more work done on my hollyhock block. All the applique is prepped, and I did a good part of the stitching this morning. Yeah!!! That feels good to get working on this block. 

The hollyhock block

There was one thing about the block that bothered me. See the green stems? Well, they didn't go through the applique blocks. So I changed that around to add the green stem BEHIND the pink applique. That took a wee bit of finagling. It's not perfect, but I think it looks so much better. 

The original block

Then I thought I was done with all the blocks. Ah - no. There's a house, a sunflower, a fence, some butterflies, then the four borders with piecing and applique. Oh well. 

OH OH OH  -- if you're following the QUILTSocial Spectrum Quilt a Long, the latest blocks are up. Here's a link to Block three for Claire.    Here's the link to Paul's block three.  And here is the link to my version of the same block.      It's amazing how all three of us made the same block, but not in the same way!!!  Totally different, and that's what quilting is all about. Finding a way that's easy for you!

If you are making the blocks, send a picture - I'd love to see what you're making!

That's all I have time for this morning. It's going to be another crazy day with two more presentations. But I LOVE doing them. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Let's go shopping

You're probably like me - I've no idea what day of the week it is. I have to remind myself every morning. This is Thursday. This is Friday. It is Friday today? Isn't it? Where are those days of the week underwear when you need them? I could embroider some! I'm sure like the rest of you, we're not getting our hair cut like normal. Well, I'm a slacker on that anyway so I can just put it in a ponytail if I need to.

Murphy is in bad need of a hair cut so I gave her one. I think she was thrilled, but she needs to have the hair thinned out around her butt. Does the groomer do that? Or do they just trim? Well, it isn't pretty but she doesn't look so shaggy. Don't worry - I didn't go crazy. I wonder if DH would trust me with my scissors? I doubt it. I'm not good!

Gosh - I even came across an article on how often you should have a shower! Actually, if you Google it, there is a lot of information about how often to shower and wash your hair. Like all things, people shower and wash their hair to excess. It's not necessary to have a shower and wash your hair every day. Showering too often can weaken your immune system and cause dry skin. Did you know that?

Like the rest of you, I'd like a date. When will life go back to normal? Unfortunately, no one can predict that and the word is that it may take two years to get back to normal - whatever that is. So here's the thing. We can sit home and cry because things aren't normal. OR we can change how we react to the situation. I know this is easy for me as I don't have a house full of kids so you have to do what works for you.

Here are some things that you can do to help pass the time:

Have coffee with a friend. NO - I don't mean going to the coffee shop. Make a date just like you would if you were meeting in person. Make your coffee before the appointed time and have a video chat with them. It's not the same, but why isn't it? You get to see them, you get to talk to them, and if they have something to show you, they can. Just a new normal.

Call someone you haven't talked to in a long time. This is something that we should do regularly.

Call someone who lives alone. While some of us have someone to talk to every day, some people live alone. Call them!

Get in touch with someone that you don't see that often. If there are a couple of people that you see once a year at a quilt show - reach out to them. Let them know that you're thinking of them. Facebook is a great avenue for this.

Take an online class. Loads are free at the moment. Try something totally different - photography, drawing, painting or if you're a quilter, go for the ones on free motion quilting or walking foot quilting. Remember the BluPrint classes are free until April 16. I MUST finish watching my two classes.

WRITE - if you're having bad thoughts and no one to talk to. WRITE THEM DOWN. Then destroy the paper. I sometimes just sit and write - totally random thoughts. Totally jumbled but it helps when I've something on my mind that I can't or don't want to share with anyone. Then I hit DELETE and all is good.

Plan. Make some plans for when this crisis is over. I don't mean vacation plans, I mean what would you like to do with yourself - self-improvement or projects around the house. Make them doable. Plan what you'd like to do with the rest of your life. Volunteer? Get a pet? Sell your house?? Who knows, but planning and making lists help to sort out things in your mind.

Get outside! Just do it - go for a walk. I don't care if you don't have a dog - you are NOT required to stay in your house. You can go for a walk - just practice social distancing. It's chilly out there today, so bundle up. Then have a nice hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate when you come back in. Do you know how good that makes me feel?

Read a new genre of book. I'm sure all of us have books on our bookshelves that we haven't touched. If that doesn't work, try learning to listen to an audiobook. Or try using an e-reader (tablet and Smartphone work). This can open up a whole different world for us.

Read a magazine. Hey - who doesn't have stacks of magazines that they have been meaning to read, but had no time. Well, perhaps NOW is the time.

Don't PANIC and do NOT WORRY. You personally cannot change anything. It isn't worth your energy to worry or panic about this situation.


Did you notice that all of the above activities are FREE? It just might not be the same way that we are used to doing things. Well, guess what? Even when this crisis is over, what we knew as normal is not going to be normal in the future. We are a very adaptable species and we will adapt to our new ways. I think technology is going to play an even greater role in how we live our lives. Thankfully, I'm getting better at it!!!  People are having their doctor's appointment on the phone and sending pictures. Why not?

I did get a lot done yesterday - just not much that I can share with you. I was working on the magazine quilt and got almost all the blocks together. I'll be finishing that hopefully today or tomorrow. It's a Halloween quilt and I have to share the selvages with you.

Little ghosts on the selvage

HOCUS POCUS collection

It's Hocus Pocus by Riley Blake Designs. Thanks so much, Riley Blake Designs for letting me work with this gorgeous Halloween collection.

Riley Blake Designs selvage

OK - so a couple of the prints are Glow in the dark. My design wall is in the bathroom. It's a large bathroom with two separate sections. The section my design wall is in doesn't have a window. Oh yes - I couldn't help myself. I left the light on for a bit and then I closed the light and the door. It glows!!!!  So adorable. Hey - one has to do what one can to keep themselves amused as you work!!!

I do not own a quilt shop, but I could! Especially in the last couple of days. It appears that I like to stockpile things.  Who knew? In the past, my tools, supplies, and fabric used to be helter-skelter. Well no more. I would say that pretty much everything is very well organized. The UFOs are still a bit scattered, but I'm working on that.

I need to change my rotary blades more often and well, I decided yesterday was the time. I went shopping and found exactly what I needed in my tin of rotary cutter blades. There's even a yellow plastic container marked USED to put the old blades in. Pretty darn efficient!!! And I"ve got supplies for three different sizes of rotary cutters.

Supply of rotary cutting blades

The other day, someone sent me a picture of a fabric that they were looking for. I wasn't able to help them. Then someone else asked for another fabric line. I have a bag of scraps, but do you think I can find that bag of leftovers? I searched yesterday in all the possible places (obviously NOT the right place), but I couldn't find it. I WILL find that bag and at this point - she can have the whole bag!

I got a request yesterday for elastic. Let me pull out that container. This is the container for elastic, velcro, and other fasteners, like snaps, grommets, etc. Hey - it's all in ONE container! That's HUGE.

The box with fastener stuff

 I found this elastic. We went back and forth to get the right sizes and now there's a little bag of elastic waiting to be picked up later today. No charge - I'm happy to help someone out who is making masks for family members.

Elastic

Another request for rickrack. Yep - I've got that too. A whole container full.

The container of rickrack

 Let's see - you want mini white rickrack? I've got cream and glow in the dark and white. So that is also ready for pickup.

Mini white rickrack

If you need anything, let me know! I may have something that you could use. I'm happy to share and I have no qualms about letting MOST of something go.

For those of you that have the PFAFF creative icon, there's a NEW update which is going to make embroidery so easy. What I love about this sewing machine - I turn it on and it's connected to the WiFi. I got asked if I wanted to download the update and install it. Yep and then it got to work all on its own!! You got to love technology.

PFAFF creative icon updating

Updates don't happen that often, but this is a MAJOR update and look - I didn't have to leave my house or fret that I couldn't get to the dealer to get access to the new embroidery techniques. All done from my house!! You got to love that.

I found a new toy that I would LOVE to buy. I can't afford it, but I might have to save up my pennies for this one. Have a look. Ooops - we don't have pennies anymore.

On that note, I've got a ton of things to get done today and I'd better get the day started.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

DAWN is my new best friend

I know - you're scratching your head. Dawn? Who the heck is Dawn?

Well, thanks to Jane S, DAWN is my new friend. And who is Dawn???  Oh, shoot - I don't have my own picture and don't want to get flak from the company so here's the link to Dawn.   Yep - we're talking dishwashing soap!!

Someone in our sewing group had a wee problem with some dye bleeding in a quilt. Jane suggested a good soak in Dawn. I remembered that some of my stuff got stained in the "flood" so I thought I'd try Dawn and see what happened. Keep in mind, the fabric is totally dry at this point. 

It's hard to see, but there's a stain right in the middle of that big white spot. Dye that ran from a batik that was in the pile of stuff that got soaked.

Big stain on the white fabric

Again, hard to tell, but all these pieces were stained as well. I really should have taken them outside to get better pictures. DUH!!!

Stains on these pieces as well

I loaded up the sink with hot water and some Dawn. I threw the fabrics into the sink and let them sit for a while. According to Jane, you're supposed to let it soak for 12 hours. I soaked for about one hour.

Soaking in the sink

Again, the light isn't the best, but that stain is GONE!!!!!  I'm so happy, I was going to have to restitch those two samples. Now I don't have to!

The stain is gone!!!!

And these pieces came out pristine.

More stains are GONE!!

It's hard to see with this one as the light fabric already has a mottled look to it. But the parts that were stained? They're clean of the stains.

Stains are gone from here as well

That was a highlight of my day!!!  That Dawn seems to work on a whole lot of stuff and it's mild. Way milder than the detergents that we do laundry with. Something to think about!!!!  Thanks, Jane for that tip - I'll be remembering that one and I think I have more stuff that has stains on it that I'll be soaking. I'll take better pictures next time.


I also got some quilts quilted. This one belongs to a customer and it's done and ready to be delivered later this month.

Customer quilt - DONE

 I also got the magazine quilt quilted. The binding is ready to put on this morning and then the sleeve and it'll be out the door by the end of the day. I had to buy a specific panto for it and I remembered how to download it and get it into the computer! Yeah! No issues. I love the quilt - it looks awesome.

Then back to the sewing machines where I'm working on samples for some upcoming classes. There are some amazing stitches (and stitch techniques) on the PFAFF Creative Icon. I was using ribbon stitches, radiant stitches and even did some editing of stitches. I'll be showing you more about that another day. But what fun!!!!

I'm making a folded accessory holder. This is as far as I got last night and I'm making two of them at the same time.

Folder accessory holder

It's going to be another crazy day as I work on more samples and sample stitch outs. All in a fun day's work. I'll be in Studio U all day.

I even squeaked out time for a walk yesterday. Off to the library and the grocery store. It's getting too nice to spend the entire day in the house.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!