A trip to the bookstore

I LOVE the idea of the electoral candidate getting his kids involved in making posters! We need to teach kids from an early age (well, old enough to know) about elections and why they matter. Your signs stand out, and kids learn something. What a smart idea! 

That was in response to a comment on the blog about all the AI-generated signs having the same look and feel. Zero creativity in that exercise, and those posters were way too wordy. 

So even with the best-laid plans, the day didn't go quite as I had envisioned. I got lots done, and yet I didn't. My morning, like I'm sure yours is, was busy. By the time I got the blog written, DH off to the train, the house a wee bit tidier because the cleaning service was coming (I know, we have to discuss that topic one day), and the girls walked, it was well after 9 AM. The dishwasher didn't get unloaded until much later. 

I was off to my massage, and I did explain what happened with the physio and my ribs. But all was good. Misty mentioned that I seem much looser than I have been in the past, though she still found some tight spots; of course she did! That's what I pay her for! But it felt really good. One day I should just have a relaxing massage, maybe with hot stones and super relaxing music, and fall asleep. That will never happen with these ones, and I'm OK with that. 

Then it was lunchtime, and I had a few errands to run after that. The traffic in the area I went to was HIDEOUS. One or two lanes were closed for road construction, and traffic backed up everywhere! If I had known, I would have taken a side street to get to my destination, but all was good. 

I wanted to check out Indigo and spent a long time browsing the books and magazines. I took lots of pictures (why not) of things that I found curious or fun! Of course I did - who else takes pictures in the bookstore? 

For the Bob Ross fans, he is never going to die. He died on July 4, 1995 - and was only 52!!! But he lives on everywhere. I spotted a coloring book. 

Bob Ross coloring book

As I was looking at the quilting magazines (I didn't buy any), I looked at the section next to me. OH GOSH, tell me AI redid the covers of all those magazines. Seriously??? The front page design is the SAME for all of them. Even the coloring on the front cover picture is similar. Boring!!!!! 

Similar style magazine front covers

If you are into puzzles and want something with loads of variety, here are two brands I recommend. Game (World of Puzzles) has a huge variety of puzzles, lots of logic, some Sudoku, crosswords, and a whole raft of other types. This magazine has been around for YEARS (I'm guessing 50+ years) in various formats, but it's an excellent variety of puzzles. 

Games World of Puzzles

This is the other brand I highly recommend - Dell. It's been around for years, and while they have many magazines, I love Math & Logic Puzzles best. I've never had a problem with any of the puzzles. Well, except that some of them might be tough, but they all made sense! 

Dell Math & Logic Puzzles

They also have lots of new game types, which I noticed on the online puzzle site I now have a year-long membership to. OK, I caved and bought both magazines so I could learn some of the new puzzle styles. 

Then I spotted 3D puzzles and these miniature rooms. They are adorable!!! I have one, and I should dig it out and make that my puzzle for the week. 

Miniature rooms - 3D puzzles

Seriously? I thought this book was fun!!! I didn't buy it - I was tempted, but it was somewhat expensive; however, there is a sale coming up! Imagine if we got back into the habit of writing mail. But this was more - just create a small piece of art, decorate the envelope, and send it! I really, really like this idea, and I know the perfect person to receive my snail mail! 

The Art of Snail Mail

I just Googled it - the book is brand new and created by an Australian (?). Here's a short video about the book. I think the concept is brilliant, and it's a chance to put the screens down and do something with our hands. Since we all have amazing craft supplies at home, imagine making mini pieces of art and sending them to someone. 

Then I found this book about quilting. I told you -- I explored the entire store, something I haven't done in a very long time, but it was fun! I found this book, "School of Quilting," in the craft section. There aren't many quilting books left at the bookstore. I wish that had been the case when I was learning - I wouldn't have so many books!!! 

Anyway, this book is very expensive and wrapped in plastic. Who wants to buy an expensive book you can't look at? You know what they say, "you can't judge a book by its cover!"

Expensive book wrapped in plastic

Then I spotted a book: sewing clothes for Barbie!! Barbie never dies!!! I was very excited about this book because these sewing crafts and skills are back in vogue. Let's hope they stay forever!!! I was tempted, but I don't need more patterns for sewing Barbie clothes, but imagine some young person getting their first sewing machine and this book!

Sewing Clothes for Barbie

In the checkout line, there are a HUGE number of impulse-buy items. Of course there is. I wonder how many people buy things from here. It must be loads because there is always tons of stuff there. I spotted small handwork kits; these were cross-stitch. 

Mini cross-stitch kits

And there was a punchneedle kit as well. 

A punch needle kit

And finally, when I reached the cash register (not because of a line, but because I'd spent so much time in the store), I was happy to see a Canadian author's (Louse Penny) books plastered at every cash register. I didn't buy the book because I am far down the list of books I want to read by her, and I will get it from the library. 

Louise Penny's new book at the cash register!

Thanks to a friend, I acquired another jigsaw puzzle. OK, it seems I'm hooked on the Villager puzzle brand. How can you not, when this is their slogan? 

Love this slogan

The artwork is by my online friend, Cynthia Frenette. She won the artwork competition for a puzzle sold exclusively on BC Ferries. The puzzle was recently released, and a friend of mine happened to be taking the ferry, so she bought it there. It arrived at my doorstep yesterday. Thank you for that. I also think the puzzle went on a bit of a tour before it reached my house. 

NEW Villager jigsaw puzzle

Cynthia made the artwork for M's wedding puzzle. Yeah Cynthia!!!!

Villager is a fairly new Canadian company, and they only use Canadian women's artwork. They are hand drawn/painted. The puzzles all have a similar feel, and many depict scenes from across the country. I'm OK with that, and I'm certainly OK with supporting our artists and this small (but fast-growing) Canadian puzzle company. I also got their advent calendar, which is new this year, and it sold out on her website in 98 minutes!! I missed that sale by 30 minutes because I don't know how to properly set alarms on my phone! But I managed to find it somewhere else, and it arrived while I was away last week. 

Now let me tell you about the quilting in my day. I decided to work on another block for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. Yes, it finally dawned on me that I can't just leave these blocks out and expect the quilting fairy to work on them for me. I actually have to do the work myself. Hmm -- that was a revelation!! (LOL)

So the next block was half-prepared, and as a group (when I taught the class), we discussed it a lot. Many people didn't want to include it in their quilt. Hmm, I'm not sure why so many of these fabric photos are turning out this way. I must pay better attention to that. 

The block is prepared for the satin stitching.

Anyway, after dinner, because that seems like the only time I get to sew these days, I started the satin stitching. And guess what? The block is done!!!! Yeah!!!

One more block is done!

I did a count, and yes -- there are still 29 blocks to make. With this one finished, that's 28 left. 

Then I thought I'd mess around with the Dresden plate block. I cut the missing four blades. That still boggles my mind, and I had quite the chuckle about it. All these years, the big issue was that I can't count! It's a wonder I can work on any kind of logic puzzle and be successful!!!!

Four more blades cut

I also made a small template of two layers of freezer paper to attempt to turn the top edge under. I experimented with that, and it looks fine from the front. 

Top edge turned under.

And the back. 

It looks fine from the back.

So I prepped two of the blades, and then I called it quits for the day. Finishing off the blades will be a task for today, BUT only after I get some sample work done! Let me tell you, I am very happy with my progress; it's slow, but that's OK. Slow is better than not doing anything. 

Two blades prepped

Here is the next block, also prepped, and I'll work on that next. 

The next block

To be honest, I think these two are the last ones that are technically prepped. For the rest, I sorted some fabric scraps. Once these two are complete, I'll sit down, look at the remaining blocks, and start with those that need paper piecing, or perhaps finish the applique blocks. I'll see how it goes and figure out a plan of attack for the rest of the year. I MUST get these blocks done, and hopefully the quilt tops BEFORE the end of the year. 

Here's my current, and I mean current, project table. All of these projects are on the Visual To-Do list, and all of them are for a class or a club. I need to work on all of them this year! Several of them are taking up a lot of space, and it would be amazing to put some in the "to be quilted" pile before the end of the year. I'm working on it!!!

My VERY current work table

Well, that's it for this morning. I'm running a wee bit late (I get so wordy when I write), and I still need to edit the blog, and then I'm off to the gym. While I can be a few minutes late, it's just me working out for me; I don't want to wait at that traffic light, so I have until 6 AM to get through it. What a silly deadline, but it works!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!