More Winnipeg artwork

Brenda did a bad thing!!! She reminded me that the ORIGINAL McNally Robinson bookstore is HERE—in Winnipeg!!!! I wonder why I didn't visit it the last time I was here? I bet I totally forgot about it! I just checked the map, and I see there are two locations! I will have to wait until I get a car to get to the big location, but there is one at The Forks, which I hope to visit later today. Thanks, Brenda!!!

Yesterday was the first day of Quilt Canada 2026, and I wasn't at the booth much if you were looking for me. I had mentioned I wouldn't be there, but I did see some familiar faces later in the day. I hope to be in the booth much more today, so if you are around, be sure to come and say hi. 

Oh my gosh --- here's a crazy story that I heard last night. I met up with some of my colleagues just before I headed off to bed. They related that someone had stopped by the booth and bought a machine. They were there because their puzzle-making husband does puzzles with me online, and they were told to stop by the booth and seek out someone with an orange thing in their hair. 

Well, that threw me for a loop, and I had no clue what they were talking about. Online puzzle, male friend? Who the heck could that be? And they had no idea that I had picked up puzzling as a new hobby. Then it dawned on me, this was the man I met during the puzzle social event a couple of weeks ago. He told me his wife was coming to Quilt Canada, and I suggested she look me up! 

He is a geocacher, and I bet he will be at that meet-and-greet today! Or whatever day it was. The world is so small, and people are so connected!!! We all had a great laugh once I connected the dots. And YES—she bought a sewing machine. 

I spent the day, or a good part of the day, in a classroom with 20 students and the teacher. SVP sponsors two rooms with sewing machines, and the class was all about free motion, which required a little bit of setup. It's crazy to set up 20 machines for free motion. Change the foot, drop the feed teeth, change the setting, etc. And then you have people extremely anxious about getting their machines set up when they are not even going to stitch for an hour or two. 

We needed to wind bobbins and thread the machines. It was crazy, but I survived, and then in the afternoon, I had to change them back to regular sewing mode. 

But oh my—people are funny. Only one or two in the class owned a Husqvarna Viking sewing machine, and trust me—I would be apprehensive about sewing on another brand in a classroom. The biggest issue I had was tension. And yes—there was only one machine? Maybe two that actually had tension issues. In one instance, the spool of thread was almost done, so the thread was the culprit. Sometimes, the high contrast some people were using caused the issues. And sometimes the thread was not in the correct position (vertical versus horizontal), and several other issues. 

But what got me is that a couple of people said directly to my face, "I am an experienced free-motion quilter." Well, if you are, then you should know that high contrast is NOT a tension issue but a shadowing issue. They looked at me like I had horns on my head! So many people were quick to blame the machine - "My machine at home would never do that." Seriously, people -- you are here to learn and have fun, not criticize the machine that you are using as part of your class fee, so you don't have to bring one.

I had some very picky people in that class - well, probably two that were the worst, and one of them apologized to me at the end about her trying to be so perfect with her project. Her work was just fine, and the tension was just fine - she was just damn picky for no reason and to criticize the machine. I didn't even ask what machine she had at home. 

I had time to people-watch in that class, and it was hilarious to see the different personalities. One woman arrived late, but only by five minutes. Within minutes, she had stuff strewn around her chair, and it was crazy to try to get to her machine to help. Then her phone rang in a very loud sound that went on and on. Where is her phone? Tucked in the depths of all her crap!!!

Anyway, the class was very interesting, and I was happy to be the fly on the wall, and I hope to try this when I get home. I think the classrooms today are a much easier setup. Simple sewing. Yeah!!!!

OH MY -- look what I spotted at the booth next to us. Yep -- there is a LOT of John Deere fabric in there. I wasn't going to buy any, but Margaret spotted a vintage-looking one that I may have to get some. It doesn't even look like John Deere fabric. And I spotted some other interesting fabric in that booth, so I will have to check that out today. I don't have to worry about the weight, but I need to worry about the space. I don't have a ton of room. 

John Deere fabric

I do not have any other pictures of quilts in the show, but I hope to get some pictures of quilts, the Trendtex Challenge, or something today. It's a bit hard as we are here to work the show and not spend time wandering around. And usually when we have time to wander, I'm so brain-dead that I don't see anything! There are oodles of quilted clothing as well, which is fun to see. 

Now I've taken my own advice about attending quilt shows and found a very quiet, "private" place to eat. Tim Horton's. I really do suck at finding places on Google Maps. Wait -- that is not true. I can find them no problem, but I cannot get there! I am good with the Geocaching map, but not Google Maps, and it's the same map. 

Anyway, in the morning, before the day started at 8 AM, I managed to find Tim's in the nick of time and still made it to the convention center. That Tim's location is only one block from the convention center. So when it was lunch time, I went to Tim's. There were only a handful of people there, and they were NOT Quilt Canada people, although a couple came in after me. 

Meanwhile, the line at the convention center for the food place was HUGE. How many complaints will they get for that? And there were other places outside the convention center. There will be NO reason for anyone to complain because there were other places. Just get out your phone and search. Yep --- I get it that the restaurant inside the convention center was easy to get to, but not to wait in that line. There were options. And I was to Tim's and back before some of those people got served - I didn't time it, but I walked and was back well within 30 minutes. 

But here is something new. I asked for chili, and when I opened the bag, I got the bread but no butter. It's a new policy. If you want butter, you have to ask for it. I guess there was too much waste, so that's a good thing.

You now have to ask for butter with your chili.

After the show ended at 6 PM, we zipped back to the hotel. I ate alone in the restaurant downstairs. There are days when I don't want to talk to anyone. I'm talked out. My throat, despite trying to keep hydrated during the day, is dry and scratchy, not from being sick, but from overuse. I just like being by myself. And so I had a quick bite to eat - I am so not into food these days. The thought of a large meal or anything heavy makes me ill. Not physically, just the thought of eating much isn't my thing when I'm at a show. 

Then I was off to finish my Adventure Lab. I did NOT intend to walk far, but well, one thing led to another  - literally. 

The first stop was very close to the convention center and was easy to walk to. This piece, titled Justice, stands outside the Law Courts building. 

Justice

It looks just like a big, heavy (30,000-lb) metal sculpture. But did you know that the three free-arm pieces actually move? Yep—I was able to move one of them; the other two appeared to be stuck. But just a slight touch, and it moved. I learned that on the app. They are perfectly balanced, so they settle back into place on their own. 

Three arms move

The last two pieces of art in this Adventure Lab took me on a wild trip down to the bridges and across several rivers. This piece was tucked along a pathway. It's called Niimaamaa and is located in the Forks district. 

Niimaamaa sculpture

OK -- so you can't read this, but it was the sign by the sculpture.

What most people would miss, and you can't really see in this photo, is that there are stars and constellations painted on the top (well, middle) section of this sculpture. So if you visit it, be sure to look UP. 

Stars and constellations are painted on this sculpture.

The final sculpture of this set was across the river, near the Université de Saint-Boniface. So that was a long hike to get there, and for the life of me, I couldn't get around the buildings. I decided to cut through the place, not realizing it was a rambling maze of connected buildings. So I ended up walking all around. If I had NOT taken the "shortcut", it would have been much faster! 

The controversial Louis Riel monument

Again, another controversial piece of art, and it was in a more prominent location, but was moved to its current location in 1995. 

Louis Riel sculpture

As I was walking to the final sculpture of the Adventure Lab, I passed a building that isn't a cathedral, but simply the shell of one. How cool that it has been turned into a gathering place or used for smaller outdoor activities. It was very neat to walk through with no roof. It's called the Saint-Boniface Cathedral and was destroyed by fire in 1968. 

Inside the shell of the Saint-Boniface Cathedral

There is a new, modern cathedral at the back of this one. Can you imagine what that rose window looked like? The opening is HUGE. 

The facade of the cathedral

And by this time, it was getting late - thank goodness that we are almost at the summer solstice, so the sun is out late in the evening. I walked across the footbridge on the Red River to get back to the downtown. I also walked across the Assiniboine River on the way to those last couple of sculptures. I walked across a lot of bridges. 

And there it is - the Winnipeg sign. You can just see the top of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the background. This is a very funky, arty area, and I hope to explore it more this week. 

I'm in Winnipeg!!!!

And what about this sculpture? That looks a bit out of focus, perhaps? It's called Forever Bicycles. 

An out-of-focus sculpture

It is a sculpture containing 1266 bicycles!!!! It's pretty cool to see in person. 

And here's another view of the piece. I don't know if there is an optimal place to view where you only see one bike. I must go back and explore that. It was getting late, and I was getting tired, so I didn't stay long to explore. 

Another view of Forever Bicycles

On my way back to the hotel, I spotted this massive mural on a wall. 

Mural on a wall

And there you have it -- another art-inspired tour of Winnipeg. There is so much art, and the name of the Adventure Lab I was doing was entitled "Is it art?" And you can see so many controversial pieces were included. 

There are two other (much shorter) Adventure Labs that I want to explore, and I'm here until Wednesday, so I should have plenty of time to do them. 

Remember, I'll be at Carellen Sewing Center on Monday and Tuesday. One day will be all about quilting with your embroidery machine, and the second day will be all about the Momento digital cutter. I've got samples that are NOT being shown at Quilt Canada, so even if you visited here, what I'm showing will be NEW. 

And I have so many ideas of what I want to make - I need to start making a list. Where is that darn AI when I need it? Nope -- give me a piece of paper! I really think there is something to be said for using a piece of paper to get ideas down. Or, if we were Dumbledore in Harry Potter, we would all have a pensive and use our wands to transfer our ideas so we could go back and actually relive them! 

And now back to some quilting stuff. Remember to check out the list of classes for 2027 in yesterday's post. And if you are at Quilt Canada, you can get the Show and Tell pattern and the felt kits. I saw some people shopping yesterday! Oh my—those kits are so cute—I want them all!! And they have new ones that are not on the website. But if you can't be here, I'll be providing much more information when I'm home. 

So there are two rivers that meet in downtown Winnipeg - the Assiniboine and the Red River. Did you know that when that happens, it's called a confluence? Well, guess what? That was the theme of the Trendtex Challenge this year. I purchased a kit, but just didn't get around to making one. It was interesting to see how others interpreted the theme, and this year, you had the option to make a wall hanging or a bag. I have NOT seen the pieces in person, but you can bid on all the items, as they are used as a fundraiser for the Canadian Quilters Association. Here is the link—which one do you want to bid on? 

And on that note, I'd better get myself organized. I want to get to the convention center a wee bit earlier to prevent people from panicking about setting up their sewing machines. I swear, people panic for no reason. They are here to have fun!!! I don't know how many times I told the group that yesterday, you are here to play with the technique. This is NOT an heirloom, just listen and learn. But so many people were willing to give up listening to the teacher's instructions and ask me questions about setting up the machine that they were not going to use immediately. I refused to answer their questions and told them to listen instead. 

The other thing that shocked me, and I guess it's not out of line. I was there to help them get set up on the machine. Most people didn't believe that that was why I was there. Do they really think they will be left alone with a brand new sewing machine? 

Mind-blowing. I must write a list of tips on what to do and not do when you are taking a class - any class. It will blow your mind, I'm sure. 

BTW --- I WANT to renovate my shower at home so it's like this one. This is the BEST shower I've ever seen and used. I LOVE IT!!!!! Remember—the controls are on the wall opposite the shower head. Makes so much sense. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Art in Winnipeg

OH MY GOSH --- I'm a slug this morning, and I just could not get myself out of bed. It was only when the threat of not having enough time to get what I needed done that I finally got out of bed. I guess the time change, the setup day, and everything are finally catching up to me. And then I had a dream that I had fleas. Good grief!!!

I will not have time for a walk this morning. Shoot --- but I only have myself to blame. I did get to bed at a decent time, but I needed to make up for the time I'd lost the night before. Anyway -- no need to worry -- I'll be walking around today, so all should be good. 

The weather is very decent here, so that is a good thing. The walk from the hotel to the convention center is short - about three blocks, if that! So when you have to carry a sewing machine from your room to the convention center, it's no big deal. 

There's something NEW and exciting in that big white box. I'll take a picture of it today. By the way, it's on a smart cart, so no heavy lifting required. 

Something new and exciting in that white box

We had two extra hands during setup today, and oh my goodness, it showed. We were out of there in good time. Typically, we finish just before the awards ceremony, but we had a few hours to spare, and I needed a nap. I hope my sleep schedule gets back to normal soon. 

I don't have time to point out various things on the Canadian Quilter's Website this morning, but please check it out. You can bid on the Trendtex challenge art - wall hangings and bags this year!!! And I'll point out some things tomorrow. I'll find a link to the winning quilts. 

So on my walk, I discovered some art around the city. It's always exciting to look at the Adventure Labs (geocaching) because you never know what you'll find. And can you believe - I spotted a geocaching Meet and Greet on the app as well. I think that was yesterday, or is that today? And yesterday at breakfast, I spotted a gentleman wearing a geocaching t-shirt. 

There are five stops on all Adventure Labs, but I only made it to two and was hoping to do the other three this morning. That is NOT going to happen. I will get my act together and do it tomorrow. 

Here is a piece of art. Based on the information in the app, I think it's quite controversial: it is supposed to represent a field of wheat, but given the cost and the look, not everyone agrees. Does anyone appreciate art? And there is always controversy over the price. 

Artwork representing fields of wheat

I'm not sure if you can read that, but one side is in English, and the other is in French. You can click the photo to enlarge it, or find the information online. 

The plaque for the artwork

This is the second piece of art on the tour. It's called High Five. 

High FIve

This is all you get on the plaque, but what I love about the app is that it gives you some history of the art. The one above is supposed to represent numerous things, and instead of me regurgitating it all, you can read more about it here. 

The plaque for High Five

Here is another piece of art - it's actually a water feature/fountain in the shape of a beaker. It's very cool because water is falling from the bar while steam comes out of the top. A string of lights below the bar illuminates the water. 

"emptyful" art sculpture in downtown Winnipeg 

AHA—Google AI is pretty smart, because I quickly found this description of the art piece. It's called "emptyful."

And then there are various other art pieces around the city. A lot seems to be happening around the public library. 

More art outside the library

I found these amazing bike lockers on the street. They are wedge-shaped, and there are two side by side. The narrow end of one and the wide end of the other. Together they make a rectangle. The only other place I've seen bike lockers is at the Amsterdam airport. These are outside the library. 

Bike lockers

And then you have this blast from the past. It looks like it was a candy factory at one time. Oh my gosh --- who remembers the Nutty Club candy with the red and white figure? The building was constructed in 1905 and 1907. It's called the Scott-Bathgate Building. 

The Nutty Club candy factory

OH MY—here's a very interesting story about the company. The logo is called the Can-D-Man. It stopped producing candy in 2024. There are pictures of the candy on that link, and the one I remember the most is the popcorn, where you got a prize in the box. I ate a lot of that as a kid! Check it out --- what a cool story. 

And this is the view from my hotel window. That is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

It looks like they have an interesting exhibit at the moment. It's a "quilt" that highlights the memories and truths about the residential schools. 

The building is very unusual, and the entrance, which I shared last time I was here, is very uninviting. But the subject matter within that museum is very humbling. 

I will have some downtime all day Sunday, as well as on Monday and Tuesday mornings, but I also have a couple of friends to visit, including my nephew. So I'd best get those organized, so I know how much time I have on my own. 

And oh my goodness -- I spotted this on IG the other day. Seriously??? Puzzlers have "to-do" lists as well? I'm doomed!!!! I won't ever show you my puzzle to-do list. 

Oh shoot --- I have no idea how to crop out the extra of that photo. I know how at home, but this computer deals with photos differently. Don't ask me why or how. 

A puzzler's to-do list

OH MY GOSH ---- I am a dolt. Yesterday, when I listed the classes, I forgot AGAIN about the Show-and-tell quilt from Elizabeth Hartman. I did add it yesterday, but some of you may have read the blog before I did. There are patterns all over the booths at this show. Well, I saw samples of the quilt, and that reminded me I forgot to add that to the blog post. 

If you happen to be here at Quilt Canada and plan to buy that pattern, and want some incentive and fun to get it done, watch my blog for the sew-along dates. Or if a friend buys the pattern, let them know. My sew-alongs are fun and not expensive!!! PLUS—you get a lot of extra information —it's not just about following the pattern! 

So here is the information one more time, including Show and Tell. 

I will get the dates, costs, and more links up, probably next week, but in the meantime, this gives you an idea of what is happening. This was all decided on based on the feedback I got from you! 

There is nothing to do at this point in time. I am not taking signups; I don't have dates yet, but I will get the information to you ASAP. All classes are on ZOOM - once a month, lasting for one hour. My rates are ridiculously cheap. And be sure to pass this information along to anyone who wants to know. I will be sending out emails and posting online as soon as I get a chance to put those dates in the calendar. 

Here are the classes: 

• One class is My Kinda Town - paper pieced. While I have chosen a specific pattern, I suppose you could pick any paper-pieced pattern if people absolutely wish. Will be several classes - not determined yet. 
• One class will be on scraps—9 or 10 sessions.
• One class will be an ongoing quilt with crazy blocks to work on (9 or 10 sessions) - 40 shades of grey.
• One class will be handwork - wool applique - I have a specific project in mind, but anything goes. Here is a link to the kit I highly recommend. Keep in mind that there are six kit styles, and within each kit, there are four colorways. See the picture below. If you are at Quilt Canada, I think Wonderfil will have those kits, so you may want to pick one up. Otherwise, I'll give you local resources to buy. I'm trying to see if we can kit this with some thread that you can buy at a local store. You can contact me about that one if you wish. 

My Kinda Town

40 Shades of Grey

Sue Spargo precut wool applique kits.

Show and Tell

While you may think that is a lot, it's not really, and hopefully this will help you plan. I can tell you that 40 shades of grey, the scrap quilt, and Show and Tell will be long-term projects. Starting in September and running until June - something like that. And the other two will run in a shorter time frame, which I am working on. 

Remember, as you look at the offerings, you do NOT need to take all of them. Do what you WANT to make, not because you have FOMO. 

And as I get ready for the show today, I want to remind everyone of my tips for attending a quilt show. Please read them so you aren't disappointed when you arrive at the show. Please note that they are also in the latest issue of the Canadian Quilter magazine. Happy quilt show looking today. 

I will NOT be in the booth this morning, as I am assigned to one of our sewing machine classrooms. I will be around the booth on and off this afternoon. But I should be in one of the booths (we have PFAFF, Singer, and Husqvarna VIking) tomorrow and the next day. 

And on that note, I need to get myself organized and out the door. The students in the class will be eager to get started, and we need to thread those machines!!!! I'm super excited!!!!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Travel day - day two!

Thanks for the kudos on the quilts, but I have to say the library quilt was all KU's idea, and so was the theme of the other one. We just got very lucky to make it all happen. I was just the supervisor! 

Well, this was a first that we had two travel days to reach our destination, but we are here! We are at the wedding venue!!!

Since I was up at a ridiculous time, which meant the blog came out on time back home, it's going to be super late this morning for those back home, because I hope I'm on BC time now. It sure messes up your sleep when you travel, but that's OK. 

I got Little Bear up, and we went for a walk. He's like that --- he has to do his business first thing, and I'm not a believer in pee pads, so off we went. 

I had checked the map, and there was a Tim's not so far away, so we walked there. It was early in the morning, and not many people were around. If I think Lexi is slow, this guy is a sloth!! He has to sniff everything and likes to take his time, and when he starts to get too slow, I just pick him up! I can't do that with Lexi!

Grandma and I walked to Tim's!!!

Since pet dogs aren't allowed at Tim's, I preordered on the app, and when it was ready, I went in with him to pick it up. I just might use that app more often! 

We spotted this giant mural on a wall. It's all about a retired naval ship (HMSC Saskatchewan) becoming an underground reef in the harbor. 

A historical mural in Nanaimo

We spotted an orange poppy, which was very pretty. Bear, of course, couldn't care less, but I made him stop. 

Orange poppy

We had some time to kill before we left, so DH and I walked to Tim's for breakfast (carry out), then did an Adventure Lab (geocaching) in the area. We spotted this building in downtown Nanaimo, which used to be what? 

A former bank in Nanaimo

It was a bank, of course - the Commerce Bank, or was that The Bank of Commerce? All banks seemed to have these huge facades to show they were prosperous. Had lots of money? Now they are just ordinary buildings, but back in the day, a bank was something special! 

And we spotted this artwork in the square outside the public library. Those are piano keys in a circle. We couldn't read the plaque in the center, but that's OK. We completed the Adventure Lab and saw a couple of things we would not have seen otherwise. 

Artwork in the square

As we checked out, we saw this in the lobby. The hotels take their pet guests to heart around here. Sadly, Bear didn't stay long enough to be the pet of the day. 

The pet of the day!

But he loves the elevator. Bear and M used to live in a high-rise in Vancouver, and he would run to the elevator, then sniff all the other dogs as they went up and down. What is so cute is that he HOPS over the crack between the car and the floor. And when I let him out of the room without his leash, he went ripping down the hall and then came to a dead stop. He had no clue where he was supposed to go! There are always tons of laughs when he is around. 

Sniffs in the elevator

And he loves to pose for pictures! The silly little guy. On our way out of town, I tried to find him a sweater with a proper opening for his leash, but alas, none was to be found at that time, and then M suggested we put his leash on the outside of his sweater! DUH!!!! He's so little, and the harness is bigger, so that worked like a charm. 

Grandma - hurry up!!!!! 

We loaded the car, and we were off. We made a couple of stops along the way, and both were on the way to Tofino. I wanted to stop and finally meet a friend whom I had met online many, many years ago. And now the secrets start anew. I will share more about her with you in a couple of days. I was super excited to meet her and see her studio!!! And that's all I'm going to say. 

She lives in Nanoose Bay, so we were off the highway for a bit, and I spotted this giant "rhubarb". OK, so it's in the same family, but the stalks were quite fuzzy. I don't know what it's called, but it was HUGE. And we had just been talking about rhubarb at the quilt retreat and how some people love it or hate it. 

A giant "rhubarb" plant

OK --- I had to Google it, and it's called a Gunnera and is strictly ornamental, but those leaves can grow up to 6 to 8 feet wide! Wow -- and then the AI Overview told me I am in the perfect location to spot that plant. Nothing is a secret when you are connected to the internet! 

Then, as part of my wedding duties, we needed to pick up some party-rental items, which is why we rented a full-size SUV. We needed to pick up an arch, which the party rental guy was certain would not fit in the vehicle, but I knew it would. And yes, the ends had to come between the front seats, but only by six inches, so it all worked out just fine! 

However, when we arrived at the rental place, the order wasn't ready. The pick-up time wasn't until 4 PM. WHAT??? Apparently, that was on the order, and this was 10 AM. We certainly didn't want to hang around for six hours. They said they could have it ready by noon, so off we went to find some place to eat and sit with Bear. 

Fortunately, the weather was decent, so we went to the Qualicum Beach Golf Course (we played there about 30 years ago) and sat on the back patio. The kitchen didn't open until 11, but we at least had a place to park our butts while we wiled away the time. And Bear got to test out his new bowl. Yes -- DH and I tried to learn to golf together, but it just didn't work out. I didn't need a constant instructor with me, and I bowed out of playing golf.

Grandma - the new bowl is nice

Here's the thing -- it would have been nice to leave for Tofino at 10 AM, but we are on vacation, and what the heck is the hurry? Just go with the flow, and it all worked out just fine. 

I don't have any pictures of the scenery as I was the driver on the way to Tofino, but it's a beautiful road. We didn't stop along the way at places like Cathedral Grove, but I remember that place well from years ago. What a fun trip that was, and I can't remember who all was on that trip. Darn --- I wasn't blogging at the time, and my memory is crap for travel from years ago. I could have flown to the moon and back and not remember it now! But we have a picture of M as a two-year-old in her oversized green fleece standing beside a huge log. My parents were with us as well. 

We decided to go straight to the hotel since we arrived at 3 PM. We are at the Wickaninnish Inn just outside Tofino. It is one of M's favorite places to vacation. We got checked in, and look—Bear has a welcome basket!!!!! Although I think the ball flinger might be a bit too big for him!!!

Grandma - my very own welcome basket!!!!

While this place is beautiful, I knew it was the "right" place when I saw all the wind sculptures around the property. We saw the same one that we have and many more. It is one thing I have purchased for our backyard that I don't regret. I don't regret anything I have purchased, but this was a bit pricey, and I have zero regrets. Unfortunately, many of the sculptures are in sheltered areas, so we can't really appreciate that they are wind sculptures!

Wind sculptures

M and Dillon had posted a picture of themselves on the beach in these orange rain coats, and I thought - wow - they bought matching rain coats. Nope -- those are for guest use in the hotel. All of them are XL, so they are huge, and while they are not super warm, they are enough to take the bite off. I just came back from a walk on the beach with Bear, and since I don't have a coat, this came in very handy. There are also big, thick rain pants, and you can borrow rain boots. 

My orange raincoat

This is the view from the dining room last night. The beach is rough with lots of rocks, and yet we saw many people out surfing earlier. There are lots of waves, and people seem to flock to the place for that. 

The view from the dining room

So we met up with Dillon's parents, us, and, of course, the bride and groom. It was all very nice as we don't know them well, but they are nice people, and we all get along, which sure helps. I am forever grateful that his parents have "adopted" M and made her feel so much like a part of their family. 

This was my dessert! Oh my—that was so delicious. 

The dessert for dinner

While we were in the restaurant, we ran into friends of ours who also traveled here from Ontario. More family members and on our way out, we met more family members. It's like Italy all over again, and so fun to see people we haven't seen in a long time and even those we've seen recently. 

After dinner, M, Dillon, his mom, and Bear went for a walk on the beach. 

M, Bear, and Dillon on the beach last night

What a fun evening, and then it was time for bed! 

I decided that last night was a good night to share the things I had made for the wedding. They loved every one of them. And now I have two more people in my small circle who share a fun secret. All will be revealed tomorrow, but they LOVED the surprise, and I'm so happy!! They were so excited they wanted to share everything last night, but alas—I want to save the surprise for the wedding day.  

Bear and I have already been out to the beach, he has had breakfast and is now trying to snuggle up wth DH. But as I look over my shoulder, I can see he is giving me the evil eye! He's so cute! They are super attentive at this hotel! But that's OK. We have stuff to do today - I think somewhere along the line there is a rehearsal, but I think we are free to do what we please all day, and I spotted a beautiful bike path along the road, and there are bikes in the lobby. So I might just wander over and go for a ride. 

And on that note, I'm out of here! The bride and groom are beyond themselves with excitement - perhaps a wee bit nervous, but let's have ourselves a wedding!!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Should we expect cheap prices at the thrift shop?

I know!!! Wasn't that video about the Ro-Ro carriers fascinating? And now we understand why things cost more, and it's cool to think some of our cars crossed the ocean on a boat! Basically a giant floating parking garage! 

I am home. And I'm unpacked! I'm on a tight turnaround, and I didn't want to keep my samples in the suitcase longer than necessary. Plus, I have to do laundry today. So that's all good! The bonus is that I already have almost 1000 steps - something I didn't get many of while I was away. 

But let's take a look at what happened yesterday. 

It was a lovely morning, so I took a LONG walk to the End of the Pier! Actually, I was following another Adventure Lab, and that's what it was called. The beautiful path along the shore, and in total, the walk was about 6 K, which is my usual morning walk with the girls. 

This was the view back towards Lion's Gate Bridge at the End of the Pier!

The End of the Pier

There was a fundraising tree display near that pier, and when I quickly passed it on the way out, I had no idea what this was. It was only when I was walking back that two ladies said, "Oh, these are the gnome trees!" Duh --- I totally get it, but I think I was too close to the trees the first time. Pretty cute! And original - at least to me. 

The gnome trees

Of course, there were loads of seagulls and other waterfowl. It was fascinating to watch them as many flew just above the water's surface. What was that all about? And when they come in for a landing, well, they make loads of noise. 

Seagull along the shore

I had packed up before I left for the walk, so when I got back to the house, I took Mister Bear for one last walk. He is so slow! It's going to be two FAST walks this morning! I can hardly wait. But he is so darn cute! And very much full of attitude! 

Are you talking to me?

I passed this shop on my way to M's house, but, of course, I couldn't take a picture while driving. So what's this all about? A Value Village Boutique? I guess all the high-end stuff goes there. The outfits in the window were very coordinated. I didn't get a chance to stop. 

Value Village Boutique

OK --- a quick Google search reveals they are smaller stores that mostly carry clothing and accessories, not the wide range of items at regular Value Village stores. Now here's the thing about Value Village or any other thrift shop. THRIFT does not mean inexpensive. They have overhead, salaries, and other expenses to deal with. I am not a fan of hearing people complain about prices. Yes—like all stores, you must be careful, and yes, some items are overpriced!

But let's take a puzzle, for example. A good 1000-piece puzzle costs between $20 and $30 today. You can find them at Value Village for $6.99, and if you are a senior or have a coupon, you get 20% off. So, isn't that a bargain? Do you expect them to be $1? You can't even find anything for $1 at the dollar stores any longer. The same with books—buy 5, get 1 free (I think that is the deal). Books are expensive to buy in a store. Books at Value Village are $4-10, depending on the type of book, so that is still a great deal and comparable to a dedicated used bookstore! 

Yes -- some things are "expensive", but look at the price of the comparable item in a regular store. Not cheap! I got a fantastic pair of name-brand black jeans for $6 at Value Village. One must watch, one must compare, and one must be prepared to pay SOME money. And yes, there are things I leave at the store because I don't think it's worth the price they charge! 

Now you might say that everything was donated, so it should be cheaper. Hmmm—did you consider the cost of dealing with those donated items? I would bet that more than half of what is donated is GARBAGE, and they have to pay to have that garbage removed. Never mind the sorting and whatever else they do. They have a HUGE sorting area in each store. They do not just take your items from your donation box and hang them up! There is a processing cost! 

So don't expect things to be cheap. The idea of a thrift store is to search, find a "bargain," but more importantly, to find something that you can't find anywhere else, and hopefully for less money!

And Value Village is a FOR-PROFIT store. It's always been, always will be! It is not a charity shop!

OH - how did I get that picture? It was on the way to the airport. If you are coming or going from Vancouver proper or the north shore, the only way to get to the airport is to go right through downtown. So while I was a passenger in the car, I snapped that photo. 

And then I got to the airport, with my favorite tiles on the bathroom walls. 

Tiles in the Vancouver Airport

I once designed a quilt for A Needle Pulling Thread magazine based on those tiles. I didn't have a picture handy, but a friend happened to be in Vancouver, and I asked her to send me a photo! You can read all about that story here. 

I was sitting almost at the back of the plane, so it took a while to get off. I really, really hate it when people start pushing, and there is NO room to go! Patience!!!!! But I got off, and my luggage came through - again, people pushing! And they line up in the boarding zones way before it's time. What's the rush? We all have a seat and a few seconds here, and there will NOT change your life when boarding or unboarding a plane. If you have connection issues, the airline is aware. And if they are not, make them aware! 

The girls were, of course, very excited to see me. We had stopped at Tim's because I wanted soup. It was later in the evening, and I hadn't eaten much all day. They accidentally gave us three chocolate Timbits. I gave one to Lexi, and she took it outside and hopefully ate it. Murphy just stared at it. WHAT? 

MOM? I'm not allowed to eat people food! 

Usually, she just gobbles anything in front of her! 

And there she is - watching TV again. She likes to bark, depending on what's on, and I'm not usually there to guide her through her exuberance. However, since I was eating my soup, I just said a few words, and she didn't bark once. If I hadn't been there? Well, that would have been a different story. Dogs, like people, need some guidance to help them through stressful situations. DH should know by now. But he lets things go until they have escalated. Sigh...........

MOM - I LOVE the Christmas commercials! 

I couldn't help myself. After I ate, I dug out my Noro yarn afghan. OH!!!! I see I have even started the sashing. I knew exactly where it was, and there were a few other surprises in this bag, as well as a few more in the cupboard where the bag was stored. OK—I need to get that knitting done! 

My Noro yarn afghan

And there's the drawer with all the knitting needles and crochet hooks. Yep—everything's neat and organized! And I know where it is - that's very important. 

Needles and hooks

Speaking of neat and organized, I should mention that the two suitcases are unpacked, but that doesn't mean everything has been dealt with. The items were sorted - what goes in Studio U, what goes to Studio B, and what goes in the laundry. I still have to sort and put away the items. Studio U needs a good clean-up, now that all the events are over for the year. And I want to set up a jigsaw puzzle. 

There are items on the cutting table in Studio B that I'll deal with later today as I work on a customer quilt. 

So this happened last night. It started about midnight, and there are a few inches to contend with this morning. UGH - welcome home to Ontario! 

Winter wonderland

I had a bit of trouble falling asleep, so I got up and read. I had a chuckle because the book I picked to read is set in Toronto, and the family just moved from Vancouver! It's creepy - it's very creepy from the first sentence! Yikes!!!! 

Here's one more blog post from QUILTsocial. Today it's all about another machine embroidery technique called Thread Velvet using the Husqvarna Viking Designer Topaz 65. I LOVE the textured embroideries!!!

Well, on that note, I've got oodles to get done today, and I had better get started! And nice to have the blog back on schedule! 

Have a super day! 

Ciao!!!