Get a hair cut!

From time to time (OK - every day), I check the stats on this blog. I'm not sure that I even understand how to read them, but I LOVE how the numbers change depending on the topic. The ketchup story? Lots of readers - so can you tell me who is searching the internet for ketchup? Appears that lots of people are. 

I'm happy (OK - thrilled) to report that today is Friday! What does that mean? Well, it's Step One of reopening in our province, and that means non-essential stores are open (if they choose to be), and so are patios. I bet the patio scene is going to be chaotic, but we're going to try it. If I have to have dinner at 3:30 - I'll have dinner at 3:30. I don't care! And if I only time for a beer? Then I only have time for a beer (or two or three). I can walk home, so no worries about drinking and driving. 

I might even wander down to the hardware store, since it's very close to the patio, and see if I can find my wood glue. Oh, glee!!! We can go out. BUT here's the danger. I like the little cocoon I've built for myself. I like not having to wander shop aisles for things. I hope that I'm not going to get myself into a rut of endlessly running errands. I don't think that will happen to me, but one must be careful. 

And all this work we want to do on the house will require many meetings and phone calls to get everything organized. It's time-consuming to get quotes. However, I'm working on it, and after next week, I'll have more time to devote to that task. It's not even like we're upgrading; it's just things that - well, it's time certain things get replaced. 

What else is exciting today? Well, the magazine quilt is quilted and trimmed. The binding is made, and I'll be putting that on this morning. It HAS to go today, and that shouldn't be a problem. I have all morning to get it organized. I have one presentation this afternoon and then off to the patio! 

The neighborhood birds are enjoying the new birdbath installed on a front lawn down the street. 

A bird taking a bath

I have to keep ahead of my MIL. She's determined, and now that I've given her stuff to sew, she won't stop until it's all done. She already has the bindings on those three small quilts. 

Bindings on three community project quilts

She hand-stitched the bindings in place because she didn't think her machine could go through all the layers. Well, it can, but it doesn't matter. Hand stitching will slow her down. 

Three community project quilts - DONE

I picked them up last night and helped her thread the serger. Somehow she managed to cut the thread for the loopers inside the serger. How? No idea, but it's all threaded now, and she can go back to sewing pillowcases. 

When I got home, I dug out two more quilts that are done, and I need to connect with the Project Linus person so all five quilts can be dropped off. No sense me stockpiling them in that storage room. 

Five quilts to be delivered to Project Linus

Holy, if she can put those bindings on that fast, I'd better get myself organized and get MORE quilts quilted for her to do. I cannot look a gift horse in the mouth - does that expression even make sense? Anyway, if she's willing to bind them, then I need to get them quilted. Hmm - I seem to have a good sweatshop thing happening here. Diane makes the quilt tops, I quilt them, and MIL can bind them. That's awesome! I just need someone to be here to operate that long arm when I can't get to it! But I think I can manage that part. 

My MIL has 27 more pillowcases to sew and about 50 blocks for a string quilt. Hopefully, that'll slow her down for a bit. 

Speaking of pillowcases, I needed a braindead job last night, so I cut a few more pillowcases. OK - so this isn't a braindead kind of job. If the fabric is directional, it needs to be cut with the direction, so the images aren't going sideways. 

Cutting pillowcases

There are a "few" more pieces of fabric that need to be cut. Then I need to ensure that the band and the body are matched up and have the next batch ready to deliver. I think I have enough bodies for 30 more pillowcases. I may have to dig into my stash to find bands, and I'm quite happy to do that. My goal is to make 100 pillowcases. Then I'm done with pillowcases. 

Fabric to cut for pillowcases

I LOVE my Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 2. I get notes from the mySewnet blog right on the screen as the machine is connected to the internet! That's exciting as I get new projects or ideas or news. I believe the blog post comes once a week, so I can handle that, and if I don't like the project? I don't have to do it! LOVE IT!!!!

mySewnet blog on the Wi-Fi enabled Designer EPIC 2

I have something super special to share with you tomorrow. I just don't have time today, but it's so cute - you're going to die laughing when you see it. 

I went to the chiro yesterday. I'm going him more of a sports medicine kind of person. He doesn't do the joint cracking thing. He worked on the knots in my neck for 15 minutes and then 15 minutes on the knee. Oh my - I don't think I've ever seen so much red (from the pain) as he worked in those areas. It was excruciating, but the best news? My neck is ALMOST back to normal. I have the full range of motion with very little pain. How long has it taken for this to heal? But it's almost normal!!! I'm so excited about that. 

My knee? Well, it's got this crazy dull ache that just doesn't seem to go away. I don't think it'll ever completely go away as while part of the issue is muscular, part of it is wear and tear. I'll just have to suck it up and accept that one. But I'm shocked at how tight my muscles are around my knees. Holy - I almost needed a stick to put between my teeth!!! Do they do that anymore??? 

I really haven't been out much, and most of the people I chat with on Zoom are women. But I feel for this guy. He has black hair, and it's curly. Well, it's starting to look very unruly! And it's surprising how we "judge" people because of how their hair looks. It's hilarious. I wonder what he looks like with normal hair? And one of the dealers I work with - his hair is very curly and very LONG. It's hilarious! I wonder how many will go back to their normal haircuts? I know DH said he likes his new do? Seriously?? Get a haircut!!!

My grandfather would be having a conniption about this whole thing. When we were kids, I remember when he passed someone with long hair, he'd lean out the window and yell at them to "get a haircut.". It was rather embarrassing, to say the least!

I have three places for you to go to this morning. All of them are on QUILTsocial. I worked on the Spectrum Quilt a Long that finished a couple of months ago. I had some leftovers, so these posts will give you an idea of what to do with the leftovers. Check them out. And if you want to make the Spectrum Quilt A Long quilt, click on that link above, and you'll get the directions for all the blocks. 

Designing a cushion cover from leftovers and a great idea for the seams inside the cushion cover.

Here's a super cute idea to do with leftover selvages. 

Shoot, there's a third post, but it's not up yet. As soon as it's up, I'll share it with you. 

That's it for today. I've got a binding to put on, phone calls to make, and loads of other things to get done before it PATIO TIME!!! 

What's going to be the first "non-essential" thing that you're going to buy? Me? It'll be my wood glue! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Pressing issues!

Ever have one of those days when the world could come crashing down around you and you just don't care?  Well, that's not exactly what I mean.  But I was at the gym at 6 AM - had a great workout and I'm back to using that foam roller again.  You know how it is - you work out all the kinks and think - PHEW - I'm good.  But the lack of stretching, the lack of foam rollling massage and those darn IT band knots have come back to my hips.  I'm pretty stiff these days, but painful foam rolling will make me feel a whole lot better.   OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!!!

Had my relaxing time in the steam room and I walked out of that gym feeling like I could conquer the world. I wasn't able to get to the Monday sewing group as I had to leave work early - had a PRESSING appointment for a mammogram in the afternoon!   Actually it wasn't that bad and before I knew it - I was out of there and rather than go back to work, I can home and sewed on Quiltcon projects until late in the night.   I have to confess that I'm LOVING my quilt.  It looks exactly like it is supposed to - the colors are eye popping and I can't wait to see it finished.

Scraps from cutting out my Quiltcon quilt.

 Do you see my subtle marketing in the photo above???   See how all those SELVEDGES  (British English - please!)   are strategeically cut and laid out for your amusement or is that my amusement????

Speaking of selvedges - I saw this quilt on Facebook last night.

A SELVAGE quilt

Check out the maker's blog - Riel.    She does a LOT of stuff with selvages (US ENGLISH)  and lots of fun stuff on her blog.  She lives in Canada.  I'll have to ask her about the selvedge/selvage thing!!!!   Who knew this could be such an interesting topic.  And I stumbled upon this blog the day after I learned about SALVAGES.   That spelling just reminds of SAVAGES which is NOT the same thing.

Well - as I got started last night on my Quiltcon quilt, I had another very PRESSING issue which was annoying. It would appear that my iron conked out!!!   Yikes!!!!   NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I have a really nice, really heavy Reliable iron - yes there is some IRONY in that name!!!!   But for the most part - the iron has served me well. But the steam button wouldn't shut off and I hate to have all that steam blasting through the room.  Keep that thought in your head for one second - steam button!!!!   And water was leaking out of it.

My reliable - Reliable iron

 ACK - what to do? what to do???   I need to get working on this project.  Could buy a new one?   Please - not like I need a new iron - I have not one backup - but TWO backups.  Both practically brand new.

I grabbed the Maytag cordless iron.  This is practically an antique now and don't look for it in stores because they stopped making them.  I do LOVE the iron, but sometimes you do have to wait for it to reheat.  But the cordless concept - it's awesome.

Maytag cordless iron

 However, I need steam to get good seams and points.  And the steam is NOT WORKING.  Yes - there is water in the iron, but no steam.  I mess around with the button and nothing.

Then after I had pressed a dozen seams or so --- I relooked at athe steam button. AHA!!!!

Steam button

It would appear that I'm dyslexic. Yep - I was pushing the button down to turn on the steam - when in fact, I had to release the button UP to get the steam.  I was a much happier camper after that.  All is good and there are FOUR seams left in the Quilcon top.  Get it on the long arm tonight and I should be good to have that thing ready for the crate on Monday morning.

Well  - I have more pictures to post, but I'll save them for tomorrow.  I have a pressing issue like getting ready for work!!!!


Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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

Monday Mania

I love Monday Mania. The group is pretty enthusiastic, pretty crazy and pretty entertaining!  There isn't one day goes by that we don't have loads of laughs, tons of show n tell, sharing of ideas and well it is so therapeutic.

I was prepared this past week and had my camera at the ready as the show n tell came out.

Joyce was working on a diamond quilt that she started at a retreat the previous weekend. Looks awesome and such a change from BIG borders!!!!   She even had a choice to choose BIGGER diamonds, but she went small!  Way to go Joyce!!!

Maria made this apron for her sewing machine. It matches her little duffle bag that she made a couple of weeks ago. 

I have one as well that I haven't used in a bit. I just dug it out and it is in my Monday box. It is handy to keep your stuff close by instead of getting dropped on the floor.   Here is the reason why I don't use mine at the moment.

My sewing machine is in a cabinet and the base is pretty low and out of the way to use the sewing machine apron. 

But my test machine (The Ruby Royale) is sitting on a table and look at all that mess

Now that looks awesome!!!!   This apron is just a smidgen too long - it bumps against the top of my legs and it has TWO rows of pockets. I bet it wouldn't take much to open up the binding and cut off the bottom pocket and rebind it.  They are VERY useful when you go to retreat or any other place where you don't have a lot of room.  YES - I will fix it and use it - got a retreat coming up and it would be great. 

And if you want to see a different style, there is one in this new book from Martingale which I saw yesterday at Sew Sisters.

Make It, Take It - by Krista Hennebury - a Canadian author!!!!

Joyce W was working on this quilt which is called Bento Box.   Joyce will be teaching this class at The Hobby Horse. The date is Sunday, April 12  - 12:30 – 3:30. Call the Hobby Horse to sign up. This is a GORGEOUS quilt. 

Claudette was QUILTING. Claudette is ALWAYS quilting these days. She is constantly raving about her gloves so here are her gloves!!!!

Here is an action shot of Claudette quilting!!!! What great form!!!!

Anita was working on some cushion covers.  I love the movement in this top - the colours are awesome, the design is awesome. 

I saw this fabric yesterday at Sew Sisters. Wouldn't that be cool for the backing of Anita's cushion?

Another cushion top made by Anita - very funky - I love it!!!!!

Jan was busy working on her Bonnie Hunter mystery. While this is a great quilt, there is no denying that it is BUSY. 

Here is a link to IMAGES on Google of other versions of Grand Illusions. Some great ideas - I would like to give this quilt a whirl, but I would play a bit more with the colours/values or sashings as some others did. As much as I have liked doing these mysteries in the past (although NONE of the three that I have started are done) - there is way too much time involved (in Bonnie's) mysteries to make the quilt blindly.  I will always wait until the pattern is revealed - then decide if I want to make it and choose my colours carefully.  I have done my share of mysteries and don't need to go there any more. I have made oodles of mystery quilts!

I was working on these blocks made from selvedges. These blocks are for the guild. 

I have been wanting to make something from selvedges for a LONG LONG time. And I have been collecting.

This is my COLLECTION of selvedges!!!   Do you think there is enough to make something????

Judy made this Raptor pillowcase!

Tish is working on a new bag made from woven strips. Those colours are AWESOME!!!!

Mary was working on her mystery quilt. They are half way through the clues!!!!

 Some of the ladies at the sewing groups asked me to give them a mystery quilt so I did. There are twelve clues and they are currently half through the process. We will have a show n tell when they are done because  I think they are all keeping up to date with the clues.

Maria got a bag made

Wow wow wow!!!!!!!!    You see what I mean. Everyone is always working on different stuff and it is so exciting to see what projects will surface!!!!   I did get more work done than just those selvedge blocks and I'll share that with you tomorrow.

On that note - I have another insane day today so best get started.

Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!