Liquid embroidery - do you remember?

Good grief --- I dreamt about being somewhere and trying to help someone thread a serger! Just as I was about to find out why the thread was breaking, the alarm went off! At least it was a logical (for me), non-emotional dream, but why am I remembering them so often these days? 

Even though I don't have any major tasks these days, my days are full, and yet I'm not getting much done! Well, that's a lie -- I spent all morning at the computer and managed to get things done that I haven't done in a while. Invoices, research for projects, a bit of work on the presentations, sending emails, ordering things, etc. And then the afternoon was a wash as I had to take a walk, read a bit, go shopping with the car (2 hours!), and work on that extra job (about 90 minutes left). And before you know it, the entire day was gone. How does that happen? I never even got to the sewing machine!

But I knew that's how it would go in the "quiet" times. I have things to do, and I always will; I just hope things don't get too crazy busy. 

I think I mentioned that another of my toenails was going to go, and it did the other day. This one was stuck under the nailbed, so I had to tape it down, as I couldn't pull it out. But the other night it popped off. I've no idea why that one went - there was no bruising, no signs of trauma at all, and it was on the left foot. But all is good. See -- you may not want to read that, but I may want to go back to my blog one day to find out what happened to my toes and how many!

When I wrote that about the missing stencil brush the other day, I felt just like my Mom! She would write everything down in her diaries, and when there was a discussion or a dispute, she would pull them out and set everyone straight! Oh dear! I should ask her about the diaries. I don't think she writes in them any longer. But I wonder where they are? I bet there are a few scathing stories in them! 

Here's another excellent reason to keep a towel on your ironing surface! I accidentally tipped the iron over yesterday, and water spilled out. Instead of making a huge stain on the ironing board cover, only the towel got wet! At some point, I need to make the towel more permanent, but it hasn't happened yet, and it's definitely NOT a priority. 

Spilled water on the towel

Speaking of priorities, I came across this on IG yesterday and thought it was really fitting for me and many of my friends. 

Is this a quilter or what? 

Whether this is actually true or not, I'm sticking to it! I can't imagine sewing on only one project at a time. What if today, I don't feel like doing whatever is next, but I feel like doing something else? There is no danger of not finding something that matches my energy level on any given day!

For those who know me in person, I typically wear a T-shirt with a bicycle logo on the front. I've noticed that some of these shirts are in need of retirement, as I would love to create a T-shirt quilt from them, and I need to keep them somewhat intact. There's no need to buy new clothes since I have plenty in my closet that aren't getting worn. I'll slowly wean myself off the bicycle T-shirts, and I suspect there are several that aren't in the rotation, so I need to get organized to make that happen. One can't go from all bicycles to no bicycles overnight! 

I found this one, which is hilarious because it isn't this what we think we can do? 

Now, the idea is that my gym, Lifetime, offers everything you could want! But if you don't know that, well, I could be swamped for the rest of my life, which I will be! 

I notice in some areas that the leaves are changing right down to the inside, which is beautiful, but also a sign that fall is fast approaching. OK - I think it's already here, but you know what I mean. Although yesterday was so beautiful, I should have worn shorts while shopping. 

The leaves are changing deep in the forest

And Miss Lexi is getting used to her bed and is quite happy to sleep overnight or during the day in there. Hmm - I wonder if she will share when we have company? 

MOM - I love my bed!

OH -- I have so many pictures to share and keep shifting them to the next day. Here are the things from my Mom that I sorted the other day. 

I laid it all out on the ironing surface to get a visual of it all. This is where I found that garden catalogue. My Mom was really into liquid embroidery for many years. OK -- what hobby was she NOT into? But it was good for her as she got out with a group of friends - my poor dad was the chauffeur, and we did NOT live close. Years later, she got into card making, and he was the chauffeur again. Mom didn't just become a casual in these crafts; she was hardcore, just like me and my quilting friends. Remember the brands? Artex and Liqui-Chem or something like that!

The quilt blocks were done with liquid embroidery

I found this panel of quilt blocks featuring a nursery rhyme-type goose. Shoot, I should have taken a close-up! I don't know how many of these blocks there are, but there are lots, and all of them are hand-painted. 

Nursery-rhyme goose blocks

There are numerous quilt blocks featuring fairies. Again -- all hand-painted and all done! 

Fairy blocks

I found this pillow panel. 

Pillow panel

As well as a ton of these blocks. There is a paper template, two painted blocks, and a large stack of unpainted blocks. I had to chuckle because I made a quilt using these blocks, which I painted blue. I made a quilt from them and used it. It started to disintegrate, so I took it apart and planned to use only the good blocks to make a small quilt. If only I had paint, I could paint new ones! 

Floral blocks

Mom wanted to know if I could use the embroidery machine on them, which is a good idea. Could I digitize something and exactly place it over the lines? 

Then I found another pile of flowers (I'm guessing they used the colored pictures in the catalogue), and these are all done. Apparently, they met once a month to paint a block. That's a LOT of meetings! 

Painted flowers

I also found a pile of newsprint patterns with mom's handwriting on them, with the paint numbers and the picture. These are great options for anyone looking for ephemera for journaling. I kept a few, but the rest will go in the recycling if no one wants them. 

Paper patterns on newsprint

There were a half dozen partially completed blocks, which are currently in a pile. 

When I questioned Mom the other day about these, she gave me the story. My question to her was, did she paint all these, or did she get them at a garage sale? No, she insists she painted them all, and I believe her. She said, "Oh, your aunt has all those blocks." I said, " NO - I have all the blocks." She never made mention of them to me at all, because she knows she wasn't supposed to have them! I agreed to bring out the flower blocks so she can pick twelve, and then I can make a quilt for her. She will never use the quilt, but it's the least I can do since I'll make quilts anyway, and they can be donated. She might as well have the satisfaction of picking the blocks in one of them. 

So I get to bundle those off with me next week. The rest of the stuff - she doesn't get! And it's in my pile of community project stuff to finish off. I also found a ton of blank fabric squares, and I'm pretty sure these are polyester/cotton blend. They would be suitable for making machine embroidery samples - they are all white, which isn't my favorite color, but I kept them. 

And I'm hoping that will be the last of all that stuff. We no longer visit the house, and I'm fairly certain we have taken everything of value. I'm sure there is much more we could find, but seriously? I'm done!

It is refreshing to have a conversation with Mom about her stuff, and she did not demand to have it all back. Well, she had already reviewed all this, and it didn't stay at her house - it did go to my aunt's, so I give her credit for that. Now, if we can only get rid of a bunch of scrapbooking stamps! There is an entire closet filled with them, and I'll see if I can sell some more when I'm out there next week! I need to talk to my aunt about it and find out exactly what happened! 

I see it's time for me to get my butt in gear to get to spin class. And now to quickly edit what I wrote. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

How to write a novel

I often wonder what it would be like to write a novel, as I can quickly crank out words - I do it daily for the blog, but each entry is completely unrelated. There's no character development to manage (well, maybe Murphy and Lexi), but there's no plot line to abide by and no details to pay attention to. 

I'm also good at writing blog posts for QUILTsocial, but they probably don't make sense to anyone. At least the first draft! I cranked out 1,600 words this morning, but it needs significant editing before I can hit send! That could be how the novelists do it -- they write out a lot of gibberish and hope that something transpires from it all, and after so many days - they have a book! 

The bottom line is that I'm progressing on those commitments and deadlines. I will have to find a way to get them done. They cannot slip, so I'll have to find the time to complete them. I have a relatively easy day today -- only one Zoom call this evening, and I believe the presentation is ready. I'll check it this morning to make sure. But that leaves the entire day to write and sew. 

And here's one thing to note as it came up in my memories last night on Facebook. I've been wondering about my current desktop computer. It's getting old, but how old? Apparently, it's NINE years old -- it's practically an antique in the world of computers. But I love it. I was thinking of taking it in for a tune-up and to check the memory. But I don't have time for that right now, so maybe in a couple of weeks. I know -- it's best to do it while I'm away, but who has time to do that when prepping is of the utmost urgency. 

My computer was bought nine years ago

There is no "computer" - just a screen, and I LOVE it. I still think I need two monitors, but this desk has no room. One day, the office will be clean enough to rearrange the furniture, but that's NOT a priority right now. 

I was off to speak at a guild last night. And I should have mentioned the name of the guild. DRAT --- Anyway -- it was the Niagara Heritage Quilt Guild. Oh my goodness, they were a very helpful group, and they had my suitcases in and out of the car before I could even say boo! Thanks so much to Pat and all the helpers!!!

But first, I had to pack. A certain someone was NOT happy to see those suitcases out. She plunked herself right in the middle of the packing, and I swear she would jump in if she could fit! She was very happy when I returned last night. 

MOM -- are you leaving again? Don't go!

But there I am with two giant suitcases and a bag of quilts. It was so much fun to get out and speak in front of a guild, and they had to cancel their last two meetings because of the weather, so we were all happy to be out. 

Thanks again to the Niagara Heritage Quilt Guild for hosting me! I had a blast. 

Packed for a guild presentation

As I was waiting for the meeting to begin, I always take a peek around the room. Oh my -- a FREE table and I spotted this giant bag of half-square triangles. I took a picture and chuckled, but I wasn't tempted -- not one bit. I noticed someone picked up the bag! 

Free half-square triangles

I spotted a bunch of AQ magazines from the last couple of years, so I grabbed a couple and browsed while waiting for the meeting to start. Oops - one of them got slipped into my bag! 

Free magazines!

But this brought back memories. Does anyone remember the liquid embroidery paints? Yep -- Tri-Chem and Artex! Holy!!! Who knew this stuff was still around. 

Instructions for using liquid embroidery

Anyway, FIVE large tablecloths were waiting for someone to pick them up. They were still waiting on the table when I left. This is a reminder that if you have stuff like this around --- you had better think of getting rid of it or using it! Are those paints still around? 

Liquid embroidery tablecloth

Those paints were a total pain because the tubes would dry up around the tips and were horrible to unclog. 

I'm trying very hard to clear my space and hope to find some fabric to walk to Diane's house, as I know she has run out. I hate to do anything quickly, but I might need a mental break later today. Too bad I couldn't go to the Etobicoke Quilt Show today! 

Anyway --- remember the Etobicoke Quilt Show is happening this weekend. March 24 and 25. It's always a great show, and there is loads of stuff there. Good thing I can't go -- they have thousands of used books (OK -- so about ONE thousand), and I'd be in there like a dirty shirt, and I do NOT need more books. But some older books that most people do not want are the BEST. 

There are NO new techniques -- just old ones revised, and sometimes the older books are better as the technique is better explained -- not some crazy way of doing the old stuff, just to make it new. 

And it's Virtual Retreat this weekend. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to participate as I have so much work to do, and some of it involves being in front of a computer. I'm good, but I can't do Zoom and make presentations simultaneously! But I'll be there as much as possible. 

Here are the links

Saturday, March 25  -- Starts at 6 PM EST

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

Sunday, March 26 -- Starts at NOON EST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86119598156?pwd=ZDFxcElxS0NmeTRjczdSR2FXd3N2Zz09

Meeting ID: 861 1959 8156
Passcode: 053861

I had a great drive to and from the event last night. Oh boy --- I can see that I don't get out much in the car! I see changes in my neighborhood, outside my walking range! But I don't care! And when I got home, it was warm and dry -- almost like a summer night! Yeah!!! Could the worst be over? Where's that egg chair? 

I'm off to walk the dogs and then hit the computer to start a major rewrite of that blog post!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!