It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's time for a change!! Hopefully, there won't be too many rabbit holes to go down today, and I need to get back into the swing of things. Good grief -- I've become a slug with bad eating habits, and I don't like it one bit!!! 

The first change -- I'm up much earlier!! And I plan to go for a long walk this morning, since I don't expect M to be up too early. I'm good with that. The good news is that there is no rain this morning. While I came dressed for the cool temperatures, my coat isn't waterproof, so that was a problem. Today is the day!!!

And thanks for the comments about the top-down knitting. I'm not a super-experienced knitter, and I had never heard of that before. Now I know! There is always something new to learn, and I suspect that as I progress on this knitting journey, I might discover a couple more things along the way. BUT first, when I get home, I need to finish that turtleneck cowl and then dig out the garter-stitch afghan. I doubt there will be much to learn with either project. EXCEPT - focus and get the projects done! 

I have no idea why I didn't think to bring some handwork with me. Obviously, I wasn't thinking. Now I wouldn't have brought knitting needles, and I hate to buy some when I have very nice ones at home, but I could have brought my hexie project. Oh well --- remember that for next time! 

OH MY --- you are welcome for the vicarious tour of Capilano Suspension Bridge. Yep -- I remember when I was a kid and came here. I thought we went to Lynn Canyon, but I could be wrong. I was terrified of walking on that bridge! Absolutely terrified. Now - it's just awkward to walk across when the darn thing is bouncing like mad! I swear it feels like you are quite intoxicated! 

Speaking of rain, I took Bear for a very short walk in the morning, and he was all dressed up in his raincoat, which he hates. But not as much as he hates his winter coat. But he's so darn cute!!! 

Bear is dressed for wet weather

In the afternoon, we decided to surprise Dillon and put up the Christmas decorations. They don't have too many, but it was a fun time as we figured out where to put stuff. I strung the lights on the back deck, and all was good. And as we took the decorations out of the boxes, we came across the Advent Calendar that M got when she was not quite two. Oh my -- it's a Playmobil, and it's still in good condition!!!

And the felt stocking that I made her, which I didn't take a picture of, and her Santa sack, which was terrific for stuffing presents into, and saved on wrapping paper! Dillon doesn't have one, so I suppose I need to get busy with that. 

M's Santa sack

We also took a quick trip to Michaels' to see if there was anything neat that we could add to their collection. OH MY—everything was 40-60% off. It was crazy, and then, of course, I asked for a senior discount -- hey, I was paying, I'm entitled. Well, we ended up saving (before the senior discount) more than we paid!!!! It was insane, and I totally get sales, but this is prime time for people to buy new Christmas stuff if they need. I don't get it. 

This Michael's also had fabric! I believe there were two aisles with fabric. Quite a variety, but I didn't buy anything. We were there for Christmas stuff! Gosh, when I went through my photos last night, I didn't seem to pick the "good photos!"

BUT - look what I spotted, and I could kick myself. Yep -- we spotted CHRISTMAS pie candles, and while they were the same price as the ones I bought back home, these were on sale!!!! 60% off. I did use a coupon back home, but still. I did NOT buy another one. But this was the exact type of pie plate I was looking for, and the only way to get it was to purchase the candle! I don't care - I just need to burn down that candle, and I'll have my pie plate. 

Christmas pie candles

I can't help myself -- that little dog is so darn cute. Bear's got quite the attitude as well. Here he is curled up on the cushions on the sofa. Quite content. 

The king of the household

And then sitting beside his toy bear, who is looking a bit ragged. 

Grandma - there's no dog here! 

And then we had a Zoom call last night, and he was pretty happy to sit and watch himself while we waited for the others to join! What a goofball!!! 

Where is everyone? 

Now here's a story about dollar stores. While I frequent dollar stores, I cannot bring myself to buy anything edible at them. I just can't. I don't care if it is a name brand, I don't care if it isn't past the expiry date or best before date, I just cannot. 

However, we were at Fields on Salt Spring Island earlier this week with my aunt, and it reminded me of a dollar store. They had some food items, including packaged cookie mixes, and well, I got pulled in by the packaging. It looked pretty decent (sorry - no picture, and it was buried in the garbage by the time I thought of taking one), and the price was $6.50. Fields is NOT a dollar store, but the items on the shelves are reminiscent of what you'd find there. Anyway, the cookie mix was 50% off or something like that. Well, I decided to buy that package. 

I decided that while we were working on the Christmas decorations, we could bake cookies as well. The darn unsalted butter to make the shortbread cookies was way more expensive than the cookie mix. It's a long time I haven't baked cookies. And I had to hand-blend the butter into the dry ingredients. My arms were thankful when I was done! 

ME - baking cookies!!!

OK -- They are NOT pretty, and I was a little apprehensive to taste them. Would they be stale or bland? 

The cookies

And you know what? They were pretty darn good! Hard to believe, but they are very decent cookies! 

So we had cookies to add to the surprise when Dillon got home! Gosh -- I remember my Mom used to bake dozens and dozens of cookies and squares at Christmas time. How did we ever eat all that sugar and survive? Oh yes—we were young and lived on a farm!!!

Now here's the problem with TV. When I went on that first bike trip to Inuvik from Vancouver (2010), we spent the entire time in remote areas, and TV was not on the radar. You have to realize that I was a reality-TV-show junkie. I watched them all! Well, most of them. 

I came home from that three-week trip and never turned on the TV again. I was cured. I had no desire to watch "silly" shows. I wanted some meaning in my life. I'm not ragging on you for watching what you want, but I just wanted to spend my time on other things. And if I do want to watch something, I try to check it out on a streaming service. I have no idea why, but it's usually not in a comfy spot, so I don't linger.  

Don't yell at me if you watch shows -- we all choose how to spend our time. I have decided not to watch TV. 

Why? Well, here's a very good reason. Last night, M turned on the TV, and we spotted Project Runway Canada on Netflix. OH -- I like that show, and she likes fashion, so we watched the first show, which starts with 12 participants. 

Well, the first episode was fun, as they took a suitcase full of denim garments and created an elegant runway look. When it was over, and that message pops up, the next episode starts in 10, 9, 8, ......... We decided to watch the next episode. And we would have watched the next one, except I was pretty tired by then. 

I am NOT a fan of binge-watching an entire series in a very short time. The same reason I am NEVER up to date with an author's latest book. I love being able to decide for myself when and how often I read that author or watch that show. It's just a rule I had to set for my very obsessive behavior!!!! 

As we went to bed, I said, "Well, I won't be able to watch until she gets up because I have no idea how to turn on the TV or work through the menus to find that show." She gave me quick instructions, but I won't watch it. As I was lying in bed, I realized I had this giant TV on the wall here, so I could watch in bed. But NO -- I'd rather go for a walk. 

Earlier in the day, I managed to input all my missing steps and spin class data yesterday, so that was good! Of course, I'm behind, but not so bad, and I'll likely have to downgrade my 2025 walking goal by about 600 KM, which isn't such a big deal. I'll live! And well, perhaps the goal was a bit too aggressive anyway, but how quickly I got out of good habits, like walking when I traveled. 

I'm not sure where or how that came about. But it was NOT safe to walk alone early in the morning in most of the places we stayed in Africa, so I kind of got out of the habit. If I'm home, it's easy. If I'm not home, I'm becoming a slug. So I'll be out as soon as it gets a bit lighter! 

And soon I'll be heading home anyway, and then I can dig out those knitting needles and get back to sewing. I have a few customer quilts to finish up, and I have more community project quilts that I would LOVE to finish this year. But I don't think I'll quite have time to finish them all, but I'll do what I can! And there are still a few classes to prep for, as well as some clubs like embroidery and UFO. 

And now, for one rabbit hole: QUILTsocial. Here's the link to day two of the week with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Topaz 65. It's all about Embroidery Stitch Out, and again, if you have a Wi-Fi-enabled Husqvarna Viking embroidery machine, be sure to watch the videos, as you are sure to learn something from them. The tools are very similar on all machines. 

I just had a quick look through all the videos I did, and they are great!!!! They are NOT perfect. A couple of wrong words, but overall— not bad, considering I do those videos in one take! It takes a couple of practices first!! I must become better at editing so I can switch a word or two if need be!!!

I also had a browse through the library book on art quilts that M borrowed for me. OH MY -- what fun, and the timing is so right. I have a few ideas to take home to work on my next writing assignment. I can't wait!!!!

OH -- and if you look at some of the pictures, you'll see my backdrop. I'm using the IKEA Decorative Table Top rod and hung a piece of heavy, grey polyester fabric over it. A seamless, wrinkle-free backdrop. I LOVE it. That was a brilliant idea!!!!

Alright -- that's it for today! I hope it's light enough outside to start my walk by now. I have a destination in mind, and let's see how far I get!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

I certainly live in a vacuum. The book I'm reading - Looking for Jane?  -- That's a REAL thing, although the book is fiction. This book is even more timely, based on events that are currently unfolding. No wonder there's a waiting list, and I need to finish it in five days, which I will. 

So we had a wicked storm pass through on Saturday, and there was NO need for the weather app to know that we would get rain. 

I was busy working inside and didn't really know anything was happening. I came out to play ball with Murphy and saw that the trees in the back were blowing around like mad. 

Wind in the trees

The sky went ominous. 

And then it was pouring rain and windy like mad. Thankfully, it didn't last long. Note the election sign that blew into our drive. A reminder to vote? Or can I snag that for the bottom of a tote bag? It's MINE now. 

We didn't have much damage. I noticed that the top lattice on one section of the fence needs to be renailed, and I'll do that this coming weekend. There were several trees down in the forest, and I don't have time to share them with you this morning, but I will tomorrow. It's fascinating to see what happened to the living trees in the wind storm. 

Seriously?? I was sitting at my Zoom table, and guess what I found? Yep -- A GOLD thread. I thought that was all gone!!!

A blasted gold thread

I had a crazy day yesterday -- another long one, and I won't go into the details, but one project got completed at about 4 AM this morning. Don't worry -- I did get to bed and then up very early. The second one did NOT get done, and it's not my fault. A little repair job needs to be done on a customer quilt, and I had no time to fix the open seam and the resulting mess yesterday. That's a job for later this week. 

The cutting table looks like a tornado hit it, and it will have to wait until later this week to be tidied up. Yes -- I'm off for a couple of days, and I almost hate going away because it causes such havoc on my routine. 

When I'm back, I'll share what Studio B looks like -- after I tidy up that cutting table. This project of orphan blocks has been sitting on my design wall for a couple of months, and I'm not going to get to it, so it got put away. 

A potential layout of orphan blocks

I have quite a few orphan blocks, and I need to do something with them. I like this quilt layout above, and there are other blocks to go with it. 

Orphan blocks

It all got bagged and put on the shelf in Pandora's closet. 

That left room for a current project -- Wonderful Woodland. It's nice to see the ongoing projects on the wall, and this one will be finished in July. The design walls are slowly getting under control!!

Wonderful Woodland

When I searched for something the other day, I happened upon this pair of shoelaces. Good grief -- they were bought at the Co-op, which means they were probably bought MANY years ago when I lived out west. 

And could this be the price? 10 cents? Nothing costs 10 cents any longer. They are practically an antique! 

And I finally baked another cake the other day. It would not pass the high standards of Paul and Mary. Oh my -- there's a wee bit of flour on the bottom. But that's because I had put a bit of flour in the cake pan. I don't have a sifter -- it's a long story. 

Flour on the bottom of the pan

See -- some of the bits of flour are still in the pan. And I was skimpy on the amount of butter I used to grease the pan. I know -- lots of things to learn!

So -- the only eggs I had were double yokes. Now, why did the chef buy those? Because he didn't pay attention, but no worries -- let's forge ahead. As I was whisking the sugar and the eggs, I realized that if I were going to bake like this regularly, I would NEED a Kitchen Aid. There is NO way I whisked it long enough to get enough air into the cake, and that's way too much work. 

I think I might stick with my one-bowl chocolate cake in the future. Just dump everything in and mix it up! 

But it turned out OK. It was a bit dry and heavy -- not enough air, and those double yokes didn't help. However, once you add a bit of whipped cream and some raspberries, who will know? It was tasty, and that's all that counts. 

I'm close to Mount Adams in Washington state on my virtual walk on the Pacific Crest Trail. Did you know there was a shelter on the top? Well, there is, and it doesn't look in too good of shape. And if you look close, you can see Mount St. Helen's in the distance. How cool is that? 

Well, I must get myself organized and out of the house. Why do I always feel like I need ONE extra day! I've got to start working on getting ahead by one day! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

On baking a cake

Gail's comment about keeping track of what she has accomplished is an excellent reminder. We are all on that treadmill, and if we don't stop and look at what we have done, it can add to that feeling of getting nowhere fast. Celebrate what we've done to help us get through what we need to do!  

I'm trying to keep a picture of what I finish -- totally finished things, not just what I accomplished monthly on the sew-alongs. I don't think there are too many things in that folder yet this year. But that's OK -- I'm making great progress on stuff, and I'll get stuff finished! 

And thanks to everyone who sent e-mails about the posts the last two days. Yes -- we need to fill our days with things that WE want to make or do, not because someone else is making a certain project or doing something -- FOMO!! It's all about balance, which we humans are NOT good at, and remember that any opportunity/class you don't want to miss will likely come around again! Especially the technique ones. 

So -- it happened. After countless hours of watching The Great British Baking Show, borrowing a Mary Berry cookbook from the library weeks ago, and having the ingredients sitting on the kitchen counter for two weeks, I did it -- I BAKED a cake. 

Getting ready to bake a cake

My first ever cake and my go-to recipe when I baked a cake weekly for my family when I was a teenager was called the One bowl chocolate cake. You threw everything in one bowl, gave it a good mix, and put it in a pan. 

Not so with Mary's Classic Genoese. I had to whisk eggs and sugar in a bowl over hot water. DO you know how hard it is to whisk something? Good lord, I thought my arm was going to fall off. Well, I think this is whisked enough; it's time to add the flour. 

Eggs and sugar whisked together

I didn't follow the instructions and did not sift the first part of the flour, which was a mistake. I don't have a sifter, but I found something else that would work for the rest. Too late -- I think I killed the air that I got in the batter from all the whisking! 

The cake batter

Anyway -- it looked and smelled like cake batter. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the over controls (OK -- so I rarely look at them, except to change the clock when the time changes!) I have a setting for bread proofing. Seriously??? We've had that stove for YEARS, and I never noticed that before. 

Bread proofing setting - who knew!

It was supposed to be a two-tier cake, but those 8-inch pans, instead of 7- inch pans, made a huge difference, so it all went into one. Thank goodness I did that. 

My cake!

As you can see, it didn't get too big, and I believe I need a little bit smaller pan; I need to sift that flour and improve my folding skills. However, the cake was cooked, it was golden brown, and I think it was a success. 

My Genoese sponge!

The sponge was supposed to have a filling of whipped heavy cream and raspberries. I don't know about you, but whipped cream starts to separate after a day, and that was going to make for a very soggy cake, so I made the whipped cream in a chilled bowl!

Making the whipped cream

And while I was doing that, I had company. 

MOM -- I can lick the beater - right? MOM!!! 

Sigh -- those girls are very much out of sorts this week. It's just us girls this week, and I know they miss DH. It's dead silence here because he spends his day talking on the phone! They only have me to bug, and I'm no fun!!!

MOM -- when is Dad coming home? I miss him! MOM!

So this probably wouldn't meet Mary's standards, but I thought it was good. It's baked -- I can hear Paul say, it's a bit dry and overbaked. I went for the minimum cooking time since it was in a larger pan, but I gave it two extra minutes, and I don't think I needed that. 

My sponge is not quite as spongy as it should have been

But I cut a slice, added whipped cream and raspberries, and ate my cake!!!

YUM YUM!!!

Overall, I would say the cake was a success. I'm not as fussy as the baking judges - I go for flavor, not necessary texture - you can't taste texture! Now the question will be -- how to improve the cake's lightness. It's not heavy, but I envisioned it a bit lighter. Sifting the flour, folding better to avoid killing the air that I whisked into those eggs and perhaps a different tin. Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? I learned it all on the baking show!!

But don't forget, I had Home Ec when I was in Grade 8, and I can still hear Mrs. Sealy telling us how to fold ingredients into the cake batter. She would be so proud of me now!!!

The major writing assignments are done now, so that's good. I have two documents that I want to write, so they are next up. They are the follow-up to some lectures that I did. It would be great to get the notes done first, so right after the lecture, I could send them out. That's something to strive for. 

I managed to do some tidy-up in Studio B, but I've got a long way before it's back in tip-top shape. Some quilts got trimmed, so I'll be sending out e-mails today. And one more quilt got done. 

Customer quilt - DONE

I did two presentations yesterday, and I'm starting to feel on top of things. Until I look at the mini-design boards loaded with blocks to sew and applique to do. No worries -- there's a Virtual Retreat this weekend, so it'll be the perfect time to work on those. 

I've still got prep to finish for this weekend, so that'll be my focus for the next couple of days. 

I was looking through my book collection for a particular book, and look what I found! Another Jen Kingwell quilt. The answer is NO! I will NOT be doing another Jen Kingwell quilt for some time. 

The Circle Game by Jen Kingwell

Will I be doing a class to help those that have fallen behind? NO -- they have my notes, and they can make their own schedule, just like I did for those that are currently up-to-date! I will admit that the workload for homework, especially for those that signed up for more than one of her quilts, is HUGE. I'm getting texts and e-mails with the progress or seeing it on Facebook. There are some troopers in the class, and they are madly working!

So this picture didn't turn out well, but someone asked me the other day that I must have a room filled with sewing machine boxes. We do NOT destroy the boxes when we get machines as they are good for shipping or transporting the sewing machines. The boxes are made specifically for each machine, and I store them in the cold room under my front step! And yes -- there are a lot of boxes. The sergers that I currently have (I won't tell you how many) came with no boxes, so imagine if those boxes were added!

Lots of boxes to house sewing machines and embroidery units

DH had saved a bone for the girls, and I had instructions to give them the treat while he was away. OK -- so whose dogs are these anyway? He didn't even like dogs when we first met. 

Murphy ran around the backyard, finding the perfect spot to enjoy her treat, and plunked herself into one of the flower beds. Sigh...................

MOM! This is the perfect spot, and I'm not getting dirt on myself!

After delicately picking up the bone, Lexi just laid down on the deck to enjoy her treat. Gosh -- they are the same, yet they are so different!!!

Lexi just plunked herself on the deck to eat her bone

But both of them are saying, "Is Dad coming home today? How many sleeps until Dad is home?" Girls, that would be three! And there might even be a piece of cake left for him! See -- I got the worst one (hopefully) out of the way while he's not here. 

I have a couple of car errands today, and then I'll be married to the computer and the long arm. I didn't even get a chance to walk the dogs until 4:00 PM. They were NOT impressed, and it was the first day in a long time that I didn't walk double digits in KM. 

So yes -- I'll be rethinking a lot about what I take on in the coming future. Or learn to work smarter, not harder. Part of it is the heavy workload on three of the sew alongs, and those will be over soon. 

As we were leaving the house the other day, I spotted a heron flying over - I think I mentioned that. Although my camera was in the car with me, I did NOT snap a picture. I read somewhere that we need to enjoy life WITHOUT constantly taking pictures or watching our children's/pets lives through the lens of a video camera. You spend so much time trying to get a picture and totally miss the event. That would have happened with the heron, so I didn't even try. 

But that reminds me of parents at a recital. They see the entire event through their camera lens and don't really get to enjoy the moment. The memory will live forever in our heads, and how often do you go back and look at those pictures or videos?? 

I'm off to spin class this morning. I read an article yesterday about how beneficial cycling was for us. I'll share part of it with you tomorrow because I think it's super important, and I'm going to say that's partially why I am so healthy, although I've only been cycling for about the last 13 years. It's not just cycling --- it's MOVEMENT -- it's doing an activity and moving your body -- that's hugely beneficial, and cycling isn't hard on your body like running is!

I did something that I don't normally do. I listened to an audiobook for the entire walk with the girls. And I finished The Wife Upstairs just as I got back to the house. OH MY  --- that book was filled with twists and turns that I never saw coming. And the ending? Well --- that was interesting, and that's all I'm going to say, so I don't spoil it for anyone. 

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Here are the quilt shows that I'm aware of in my area. 

The Textile Show at the Gerrard Art Space (Toronto)  --- show runs until April 3!!!  (better hurry on that one!)

Colour with a U  -- a quilt show at the Orillia Museum of Art & History -- runs until April 9 

Common Thread Quilt Guild Ottawa) is hosting its show on May 6,7,8. 

Hamilton Quilt Guild -- June 3, 4

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Don't forget to check out QUILTSocial today  --- I'm checking out some accessory feet for the sewing machine. 

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And lastly, don't forget the Virtual Retreat this weekend. 

Saturday, March 26 --- starts at 6 PM. 

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89254233911?pwd=VGQrTnFybW1HMWpleHA4M2Q2NGVwZz09 Meeting ID: 892 5423 3911 Passcode: 982797

And Sunday, March 27 -- starts at NOON.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81693717518?pwd=STNoVVQzbDd4ZnROQndNNlpvcC90QT09 Meeting ID: 816 9371 7518 Passcode: 579285

On that note, I'm out of here!!!

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!!

My brain is overloaded!

My head is about to explode! And not because I'm sick  -- it's going into learning overdrive! Yesterday was a HUGE challenge - the customer wanted one thing -- I didn't know how to make it happen. After some DESPERATE phone calls and e-mails and THANK GOD people were there for me, I was back at the long arm, and I figured it out! 

One more test run to attempt this morning, and then I'm loading the quilt. I have to say that I was feeling pretty low yesterday as I tried and tried and couldn't make it work. It wasn't just that I couldn't figure it out - I was looking at the solution in one way, yet the answer lay in another totally different direction. Once that idea was in my head, it was simple to make it work. All that to say -- we need to THINK OUTSIDE the box!

Once I looked back at the quilt, I had to redo the quilt pattern, and within a few minutes, I had the revised design ready to go. I'm going to have to do a custom quilt of mine to remember what is possible and how to do it. But this curve was steep and challenging - I don't think I'm going to forget. 

Here's some advice for you -- there are NO training manuals for this software. BUT, I repeatedly tried to get it to work. Trial and error. Why does this happen when I touch this? And after some fruitless moments, but I kept trying, I figured it out. Phew!

I'm also pushing my envelope on the embroidery software. I'm trying to do a project, and while it's acceptable, it's not totally correct. However, an e-mail to someone, and I got the missing clue to what needed to be done. I will get a mini-tutorial next week (no time yesterday), and I'll be good until I hit the next snag!

My Dad will be 89 this year, and that's what he does all day. He's trying to get his CNC software working with the CNC plasma cutter. The apple didn't fall far from the tree at our house! My Dad is BUILDING his plasma cutter set-up, including the XYZ motors that run it. 

I love Helen Anne's comment about the Zoom call and tidying up her sewing studio. She said the Zoom call was a perfect opportunity to tidy, and the chatter kept her mind occupied while she cleaned!! I LOVE it -- perhaps at the next Virtual Retreat, we're going to have to have TIDY UP TIME! The next retreat is on January 29 and 30, and that's a Saturday and Sunday. The Sunday starts a bit later as I have a class at 10 AM. 

I know some people want a garment sew-along! ACK!! I do as well, as quilted clothing is BACK. Right now, there just isn't enough bandwidth in my calendar to make that happen. Perhaps we can start in February when things are under control. OK -- just STOP laughing right now!!!

I'm almost ready for one class and embroidery club tomorrow. Most pictures are taken - they just need to be put into a presentation. And the large distribution lists that needed to be done are created. I need to forward an e-mail to those groups TODAY. Just did it! So if you are in the Timely Techniques sessions and did NOT get an e-mail from this me this morning, let me know. Dare I say that the admin work is going to slow down? I doubt it. The more you do, the more work and follow-up you generate! 

I dare NOT show you a picture of Studio B at the moment. It definitely looks like a tornado went through. One about 20 feet wide! But it's all temporary as I get past this learning curve. But there is space to work on those three surfaces; it's the floor that's in a bit of disarray!

I got three more community project quilts from Diane. 

Three more community project quilts

After all this fiddling with the custom quilt, I'm going to truly appreciate a pantograph!!! And do NOT ask me to do a custom quilt for you. You can't afford my price! But I very much want to do one for myself! Yep -- I now have just enough knowledge to make me dangerous. 

You knew this was going to happen. I was at Indigo the other day, and I decided to check out the cookbooks; and I found one from The Great British Baking Show, but I did NOT buy it. 

 A baking book from my favorite show

Instead, I went to the library and found a Mary Berry baking book, and well, those recipes are darn simple! And she even uses margarine for several of them. Mary? Margarine?? I'm shocked!!!

Mary Berry cookbook

It's sitting on the kitchen table, and at dinner last night, DH wants to know when he's getting his cake. Well, not until these custom quilts are done! 

All I can say is thank goodness we don't have kids at home because I don't think either of us came up for breath yesterday. 

Here's a couple of things that I found while going through Pandora's Closet. This giant purple container -- come on -- surely you have one of them. I have two of them, and they were a popular storage item at Micheal's many years ago. 

I opened it up to find this in the top tray. 

Finished quilt blocks

Hmmm -- some blocks and some paper piecing templates. What is it? 

Paper pieced log cabin blocks

Those are tiny (4" finished) scrappy log cabin blocks, and I think I found twenty blocks already made. And the BEST news, the bottom of that purple container is filled with precut strips ready to make more blocks. 

The scraps ready to make another log cabin quilt

Years ago, I made this quilt. There are 144 blocks in the quilt, and my production method allowed me to make four blocks in one hour. A large quilt will be VERY heavy with all those seams. 

My scrappy log cabin quilt

This is NOT a good picture of the quilt, but it hangs in my hallway, and I LOVE it. I intended to make a bed quilt, but I ran out of time. So now I have that bucket filled with scraps, and I'd like to make a second one. I know-- why?? Because I CAN!!!!

Besides storing your scraps in a bucket like I did, we're going to explore scraps tomorrow. How to store them, what to keep, and a whole lot more. So if you have pictures of how you store them, forward them along. I have some good ones to share with you. elainetheriault@gmail.com

Here's something else I found in the closet. Two bags of different-sized pieces in greens and pink. I LOVE the color combination, but no specific project in mind. So this went into the stash room. There won't be anything left by the time I'm finished putting things away in that closet! I'm good with that. 

Pink and green fabric bundle

And I found this. Two tassels and a meter of fabric. They were in one of the boxes for making tote bags, and the tassels went in my supply box with cords and tassels. The fabric? I don't know what to do with it. 

Animal print napped fabric

It's like a decorator fabric with a short hair nap. It's fun, but what the heck should I do with it?? Does someone want it? Well, I might not give it away if someone has an excellent idea for it. 

Take stock of your "new" sewing spaces? Are they clear -- I know mine isn't, but I'm in a project mode, and it's perfectly OK to make a mess. Just be sure to clean it up! The bottom line is don't let those spaces become storage areas! 

And next time you're on a Zoom call, why not tidy up! I use a wireless set of earbuds, so I don't have to be right at my computer to listen to the chatter. They are awesome. If you don't have wireless earbuds, take the stuff you're tidying to the computer and listen while you sort. It's very relaxing and very therapeutic, and you get a clean room as a bonus!!

On that note, it's time to head outside to walk the girls. Oh, those girls!!! Who wants to walk outside when it's minus 13. But other parts of the country have been way worse -- I need not complain. 

Have a great day!!

Ciao!!!