Perspective is important

Oh my --- it's funny how sometimes taking a picture with no reference can throw things out of whack. That's why sometimes I take a picture with my hand/finger in it to show the scale. 

Remember my basket of triangles to be made into HSTs? 

My basket of triangles to make HSTs

Well, this is not a large basket. Have a look. 

The basket is 7" tall.

The basket is only 7" tall. But it's still big enough to house a LOT of those little triangles. 

Perspective or scale, might be a better word, is extremely important and can be used very cleverly. I'm sure you've all seen some of those photos. Here's a link to a Pinterest account if you don't know what I mean. BUT --- don't dally long. Pinterest can be deadly in how much time you spend there, which is why I do NOT use Pinterest. 

 Remember this big ball from the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham? I don't think I posted it, but it won an award for Quilt Creations, and apparently in person, it's spectacular. The center is filled with an inflatable balloon. 

It's called Pride Around the World by Matt Wilding. It looks fun, but how big is it? It's hard to tell if there's nothing around it to compare to. 

Pride Around the World by Matt Wilding

But when you see someone pushing the ball, you realize it's pretty big. It's 2 M in diameter!!! It's quite the sewing feat and looks amazing. 

That ball is big!!!

Here's a short clip of Matt talking about his project. No sound on the videos, but it is closed captioned. 

I had a physio appointment, and I had no car. But I have four bikes in the garage, so it was a no-brainer to pump up the tires on one and away I went. 

My ride to physio

This is my townie - the model for my tattoo! It was pretty grimy and dirty and desperately needs a thorough cleaning. I wasn't sure about the tubes because, when I started to pump them up, I could hear the rubber tubes popping and expanding inside the tires. I took it for a spin down the street to see if they were holding air, and all seemed good. It's 3.7 KM from the house, and the only nasty thing is you have to cross an on-and-off ramp for a major highway. BUT, they changed the light system years ago, and so there are definite gaps in the traffic. It was not an issue. 

I wasn't going to walk that far there and back. Too hot for that, and I didn't really have the time, although I do walk that far in the morning with the girls - I just didn't need a second long walk in the day. 

Now that the tires are pumped up, I need to get out on that bike more often. It's fun. But that bike needs to be cleaned up. I had to wash my hands every time I got on and off because it was so dirty. Even my helmet was filthy! 

As I was puttering in the garage, I also started a sorting line along one side. Hard plastic, metal, wood, etc. If I can do a bit of sorting each day, I'll soon have a load or two to take to the recycling depot. Sometimes, it just takes an intervention to get started. In this case, DH had the car, and I was stuck! Well, I wasn't stuck, but I was NOT going to get an Uber for 3.7 KM. And if I was going to walk, I would have taken the shortcut through the gym parking lot, which cuts off about 1 KM. 

The bike was behind some of the junk, which is why I started sorting as I pulled the bike out!

As for physio? As suspected, my muscles are TIGHT. Hips, glutes, in particular the piriformis, which is a tight little ball. That's likely the issue for the sciatic nerve problem. So I got confirmation on the exercises from the other doctor, plus tips on how to make them happen with good form. And I got some new ones to focus specifically on the piriformis and to stretch out my quads. OMG - my hips are terribly weak! Try doing the clam shell in good form, and I can barely move my hip and instant pain! So it's all about baby steps to try and strengthen and open up those muscles! 

I got both embroidery machines running yesterday. Let's say that those machines are big. I was using the Mega Turnable Hoop, which is quite big. You can stitch out an area that's almost 18" square, so the hoop is larger than that. There is also one for the NEW PFAFF creative icon 3—but I can't remember what it's called. I'd better get that terminology under my belt by Wednesday!

I was afraid the hoops would clash at one point. They came close, but not close enough to touch. And yes -- that foot pedal is on the table for lack of space anywhere else. I don't use the foot pedal for machine embroidery. WAIT -- that's a lie—I do, but I didn't need it for this project. 

Will the hoops collide?

Then I fired up the sewing machine, and I could monitor the hoop positions from where I sat. The rust fabric was in the HUGE hoop, while the black was in a smaller hoop. 

Monitoring the hoop positions on the two embroidery machines

I decided it was time to get that darn rooster block done. Remember the rooster block from Down on the Farm? 

The original rooster block

Remember that some of the grass stalks along the bottom weren't contrasting enough with the grass background? At first, I wasn't going to change it, but after someone commented, I decided to bite the bullet and redo that section. 

The new rooster block

I wasn't going to change the grass in the post area, as you can see it well enough. WAIT --- there's another piece of that dang grass on the right side of the post. So I had to cut a bit more fabric and make that happen. 

The final rooster block

And now the rooster block is done. All that is left is to remake the turtle because his head doesn't contrast well with the water. I may or may not work on that today. 

I managed to get two samples done yesterday. I won't have time to make anything with them, but I have the stitchouts, and that's good enough for the moment. 

A lot of technology was working yesterday, and I managed the two embroidery machines while I sewed on the third one. It is for all the toys on those tables that I am NOT ready to retire! I am having way too much fun, and I don't want to give up those toys, which I would have to do when I retire. Or cough up a lot of cash! 

Having fun with the toys

If anyone in the industry (companies that make tools, fabric, and notions) ever doubts our ability to work on these machines, don't let me hear them say that! We are sophisticated, intelligent, and very smart consumers. We have to be because otherwise, how could we use their products? I once heard an executive of a fabric company poo-poo their consumers about something, and I have never forgotten that. You can never forget who your consumer is and don't underestimate them. We are smarter than you think we are! 

I sat outside for a bit in the afternoon, and Murphy was totally fascinated by something under the deck. Was it a rabbit taunting her? Or a vole? It could have been either, but those rabbits are known to sit under the deck. 

MOM - there's something under the deck - I got this!

Speaking of Murphy, I left her out again last night. I brought her in, and the minute that door closed, she started pacing. So I let her out so we could all get some sleep. I think she barked once at around 10:30, so I brought her in. She seemed agitated by something - i.e., she wasn't sleeping. She didn't like that door closed one bit and ended up going upstairs and plunked herself on the floor where she could hear the waterfall through the open windows, and she didn't budge all night. 

What is going on in her head? 

I also managed my weekly one-hour in the garden! Pulling more weeds and playing Twister on the pond rocks as I attempt to grab all the creeping vine. As if that is ever going to happen, but I need to keep it under control. I could spend more time, but an hour a week works for me. I finally got some of the mulch that has been sitting around for MONTHS spread out. Now that all the electrical junk (old lights and wiring) is gone, it looks so nice. And I broke down and ordered my other item for the backyard from my favorite online store. I could NOT find it in an actual store. 

And after dinner, I worked on the puzzle again. OK -- so it's not as easy as I thought it would be. There are lots of tricky bits, and I doubt I'll get this done by Monday night. You never know! 

Work on the jigsaw puzzle.

Making samples or working on the puzzle? That is the question. 

OK—I'm totally in love with this IG account I started following. More great words of wisdom. Here is one I chose for today. If you want to follow along, it's called Thought.Minds. Very insightful information. 

I would love all their words of wisdom in a book! They are probably in a book somewhere. But I pick the ones I totally agree with and follow, and then I capture others where I could (and want) to do better. I could do better in this area. 

Well, it's time to get moving. There's a lot of sewing to get done today. Actually, that's a lie - it's machine embroidery that needs to be done. A little creative thinking and I can get both machines working on different things, which will speed up the process. And instead of sewing, well, I could work on that jigsaw puzzle! But don't tell anyone!

On that note, I'm out of here. 

Have a super day

Ciao!!!

PS -- in case you are wondering, the next Virtual Retreat is August 29 and 30. I feel like it's been forever since we all had a great chat!!!



















captioned. 

It's a rainbow!

What can I say - I LOVE my new job.  Of course - the fit is absolutely perfect for me. Who would have thought that such a thing existed? I mean finding a job that is perfect!   I am sure there will be days when I wish I were home, but for now - I am loving it!

I am finding the time constraints a bit tough - no more casual sewing days, but I try to drop in on Monday morning to see the early birds and then off to work. And I do "cheat" and take the 407 which is a toll highway.  Everyone tells me that it is expensive and yes it does have a high cost. However I can easily justify this by taking my lunch EVERY DAY!!!  I know - who would have thought! And I will save money by not buying fabric. First off - I don't need ANY fabric because of what I have in my stash and there is a whole warehouse of fabric that I can pet whenever I want!  Second - the stores are closed by the time I leave work - leaving only Saturday to shop (and I'd rather be sewing) and I REFUSE to shop online.  What's the point? and I would rather support my local quilt shops with what little fabric shopping I will be doing. Oh and let's not forget the magazines that I don't have to buy because it is part of my job to look at the magazines. So - I'm thinking it is probably cheaper that I work and take the 407 than if I stayed home!!!!   Amazing how you can justify ANYTHING!!!!!


Oh and here is what else I have learned at work.  I remember my very first day at work when I was a mere child.  I was working at Bank of Montreal at the head office in Montreal.  I was hired as a support person in a loans office.  The office had just received a new photocopier and there was a "course" on how to use it.  Well a training session let's say.  Boy have photocopiers changed.  Now our copier in the office allows you to scan documents and e-mail them as .pdfs to anyone and many many other things that I have no clue about yet.  So imagine me at the photocopier yesterday trying to scan this document to send to myself so I could forward to a Northcott customer.  Thank goodness I sent it to myself first because it took me about 5 tries before I got it figured out how to scan all five pages as one document.  Oh yes - I am on a roll!!!!!   I still haven't figured out how to put my e-mail into the photocopier address book.  Maybe today!!!!

Nope - no time - got a meeting about Houston Market today.  Exciting!!!!!!!!!!!


Anyway - life goes on!!!!!

Does anyone else have a crazy kid in their house?????   M seems to be experimenting with all kinds of food. Some really bizarre stuff and because she doesn't follow recipes well - things don't always work out.  Case in point - she made some peanut butter/chocolate muffin combination thing.  Too runny to do anything with but leave in the pan and eat with a spoon. However when you want to take the pan with you on  a picnic and it doesn't fit in the container - just FOLD the muffin tin.  Seriously??????   I have definitely failed as a mother when your kid folds the muffin tin.  It is disturbing because she just seems to think we will replace anything that gets broken, bent, ripped or torn.  Nope - she is an adult now and heck - I never made muffins anyway!!!!

Why cover the muffin tin with plastic wrap when you can FOLD it!!!!

Another advantage of working is that I get to have lunch with Carol from time to time. Her travel plans allow her to be in the area that I work and when our schedules work - we can have lunch - which we did a week or so ago.  We were exchanging fabric license plates and we have a BIG exchange to take place in a couple of weeks. I can hardly wait!!!   Anyway - look at what she got for me!!!!!!!!!!!   Now isn't that perfect!!!  It is a business card holder!!!!   And I have a feeling it is going to be well used as I already see e-mails floating around asking if I am going to be in Houston. We work with a lot of different people and Houston is going to be BUSY!!!!!!     Thanks Carol!!!!!!

Business card holder!

 Linda was in the US recently and look what she found for me!!!   This is so perfect!   A bicycle puzzle. I'm going to put it together and then use that glue to make it permanent.

Bicycle puzzle

 Speaking of bikes and puzzles. There was a magazine that came out in the spring 2015?????   I wasn't going to purchase the magazine but there was a pattern in there with a plain background and a bicycle on that background.  I bought it for that pattern.  I know I have it and I could make it without the pattern, but does anyone remember what magazine it was?????   I spent a bit of time last night trying to find it and no luck!!!   If I knew what I was looking for - it might be easier.


Oh boy - I have plans to redecorate my office at work.  Just see how gutsy I am to make the changes. Well - nothing earth shattering, but I do have to change those quilts.

Speaking of quilts - I did get some sewing done last night.   I got one set of 6 blocks done and can you tell the difference???   The one on the extreme left is from the original batch and the six are from that new bundle!!!   Identical fabrics.

More blocks for Syncopated Rhythm

I started putting them on the wall and did some more shopping Chez Elaine because I had NO red blocks and nothing to make them from.

Current blocks made

Can you believe - I found that blue square in the bottom left corner - in my stash.  A 10 inch square and it is perfect.  I found some reds - I think about 4 or was it five?   So I need 1 or 2 reds and 2 purples and then I have enough to make 100 blocks in total (including those that are already made)

To sew into blocks

It doesn't take that long to sew up the blocks and I hope to get more done tonight.  I have to say that now that I am more focused with my time - I am sewing MORE than when I didn't work!   I also did some gardening last night and tidied up the house - a LOT!!   Although there is still way more work that needs to be done.


I hope to get my schedule organized and list my classes in the next day or so. Stay tuned for that.


On that note  -  it is time to head off to work!!!!   What fun awaits me today?????   I do need to get some of these ideas out of my head and onto paper so maybe I will try that today.  Also - and I am very serious about this - if you have ANY ideas of what you would like to see on fabric - send them to me.  It can be just a concept - a thought - an idea.   I am working with Deborah Edwards on coming up with new things so anything you have - let me know.  Who knows - you may see your idea in fabric!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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

Technology - friend or foe?

I just love technology.  You can gather pretty much any kind of data which is cool to look at. You can program your lights to turn on when you are on the other side of the world and so many more things. But technology can be extremely frustrating.

I had to pick up one of my bikes that was being serviced - I know - I could do it myself and save some money, but they do such a good job at the bike shop.  Anyway - we got talking about bike computers.  I have two very good ones from Garmin, but one of them (the newer one) has been acting very sketchy. JP suggested that I upload the latest software upgrades to see if that made a difference.

I dutifully came home and had to figure out what I needed to do. When I found what I wanted, I kept getting an error message - Download failed. Seriously????   Why?????   OK - maybe it won't work on my laptop which has a version of Windows that is getting a bit dated. I run downstairs and find all the parts of my big new computer which I am not using because it was mostly to do pictures and well - it has Windows 8 on it which I don't really know.  And now there is Windows 10 to complicate my life!!!

I try downloading the software and same error message. Seriously?????   I downloaded the software four times - tried each one. Nothing!!!!   Then I call support - closed!  Looked on-line - can't find a solution. I did find a forum where MANY people complain about the same thing. Then I try to download one of my four copies and VOILA - the darn thing loaded.  So can you explain that to me?????   At least if there is a problem, why isn't Garmin fixing it? Or at least put a note on the forum to let people know what the scoop is.  I don't mind having a problem but if there is a known solution - then either fix it or make the solution known.  GRRRRRRR!!!!!   Bottom line - I got the program to work, I have now activiated all THREE of my Garmin devices on their management tool. All are up to date with their software and hopefully that ends the issue of my bike computer having hiccups every once in a while.    Yes folks - this glitch wasn't with some obscure piece of software - this was Garmin Express - their main software that allows people to do upgrades and manage their account. It should NOT be loading with errors.

Updating the Garmin devices

I am having another technology issue this morning which I won't go into detail. I had this issue before, but hard to explain to support after the fact.  Well it happened again this morning. The support guy had said to notify him right away and I did.  He responded almost immediately (that blew me off my chair) and I explained exactly what happened and he is currently trying to fix it.  Now I LOVE THAT.  Thank you Scott - you may be my hero of the day if you can figure out this problem!!!!!!

Almost everyone takes their lunch to work at Northcott. There are plenty of restaurants around, but I guess the premise is that it is more costly to eat out every day and no time. So we all take our lunch. For those of you who know me - ACK - I have to round something up to eat.  So far so good. But I got an invitation yesterday to go out for lunch.  I haven't had a good chat with Carol in ages so I jumped at the chance. We caught up on our row by row frenzy stories - I must admit, I will be glad when this is over. There are so many trades in the air and waiting for plates to arrive.  I am sure the stores are going crazy with the entire process.  So if you are in the process of trading with me - please bear with me - I can't do anything this coming week, but the week after - I hope everything can get settled.

Anyway look what she brought for me.

Hmmm - what is on that quilt????

Do you get it?????

I absolutely love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   And it just so happens that I brought this little bike into work yesterday - perfect timing. I think it is perfect.   Thanks Carol!!!!!!!    That is my favourite plate by far.

Yes - I need to change those quilts in the office.  Actually there is a huge stack of quilts in the marketing department - perhaps I will dig through the pile and find one more to my liking.  That is too bland and boring for me. Too pretty!!!!!



Oh yes - Carol brought me another present in light o fmy new job which I didn't get a chance to get a picture of yet and no time this morning. I'll show you tomorrow.


Speaking of bikes - look what M found for me. I think she got them at HomeSense.

Box of tissues with pretty bike design on it

Awesome bike glass!!!!!

Now is't that awesome!  Yep - soon my office will be taken over by bikes or at least bike themed stuff which is fine by me.


One must have fun in life and as they say - you can grow old, but you don't have to grow up!  That is me!!!!!!!!



OH - I know exactly what I will put on the wall in my office.  Got to find the pattern - shoot - it was in a magazine that I bought just for that pattern.  Now to remember which magazine.   ACK - no time today to find it.


Here is another edition of QUILTSocial - 50 ways to keep a quilter happy while on vacation.    That fun part of the summer is almost over.  Drat and I was just getting warmed up!!!!!


On that note - I have an incredibly busy and time pressure day so best get started.

Have an awesome day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!