Puttering in Studio B

No bananas for breakfast! It's been so hot, I haven't been walking in the afternoon for THREE days! It's cooler now, so I should be able to get out. Yep -- I could take the car, but where's the fun in that? I'm happy to do without the bananas rather than going in the car to get them. 

And boy, oh boy -- I've been so lazy! I'm getting stuff done but at a snail's pace, which is OK. But when you have loads you want to do? Well, you just take it one day at a time and hope the next day will be better! My shoulders feel really tired, so I booked a massage for today. Maybe that'll perk me up!

I think the biggest culprit is the feeling of having to jump back into work full force next week, and I'm just not ready! It's not that I'm not ready, but trying to keep things under control, wanting to get so much done, it's overwhelming, and when I'm overwhelmed, I don't do well! Believe it or not! Well, I do, and I don't! 

Let's see how today goes. Slow and steady!

I did some puttering yesterday to tidy up Studio B a wee bit. Here's what happened. 

As you know, I've spent enormous amounts of time trying to put similar things together. That way, you know what you have and whether you need more or less of that item. Once in one location, it's an excellent opportunity to sort through everything to make it easier, when you want to find something specific. It was a huge task just putting the things together, but then, slowly, I've been sorting through things to make them usable. 

A while back, I took all my threads, which were in three different places and remain in three places for ease of storage and depending on their use. It's working perfectly, but I still had one basket of thread that I needed to deal with. 

Sorting threads

I think I was able to find a home for half of the threads. Some are tricky to sort, and you wonder if you'll ever use those threads. Just because a thread is on sale doesn't mean it's a good deal!! Or even better -- those spools of FREE thread that we covet but will never use. I used to be big on getting free stuff, but now I'm pretty happy to pass it by unless it meets my standards!

This is what I have left to deal with. 

The last of the thread that needs to be sorted

I know -- I'm almost there, and I should have forged ahead and finished it, but I didn't feel like it. And, like I said, some decisions need to be made about where to place these, so I'll plug away at it and maybe do a couple of spools a day. Or the next time I'm motivated, I may just finish the basket. 

Then, I needed to find some clear vinyl. OK -- I know exactly where that is. 

The drawer of vinyl! 

But I found a whole pile of other stuff when I opened the drawer. Stabilizers, interfacings, and who knows what else. And can you tell me why one person needs so much vinyl?

So then I went through the drawers in that unit. OH -- crammed with stuff that should be better sorted. 

Drawers of stuff

And while I love these units from IKEA, they are a pain if something slips out of a drawer. You cannot just pull the drawer out and retrieve it -- you have to unscrew the drawer from the track and then replace the screws. A job for later. I wonder what goodies are in behind? 

Something stuck behind a drawer

I have two of these cabinets, which need to be sorted. They are somewhat sorted, but not completely. 

The second cabinet

I found a lot of stabilizers in these drawers, yet I never use them. I use the rolls that are on top of one of the cabinets. 

My stabilizers

So, as I'm going to do some embroidery today, I'll dig stuff out of the drawers. The stabilizers could do with a good tidy-up, but at the same time, there are so many different kinds that I must start using them up! No need to buy more! 

And I found these two packs when I was in the drawer for the vinyl. BRAND NEW - never opened - both of them! Freezer paper sheets, which I had totally forgotten I bought, and some sheets of fabric-solvy! Why am I NOT using these products? 

Brand new packages

I am listening to my audiobook, which I need to finish by Sunday, so I don't need to take two phones next week. NO -- I haven't had a chance to make it to the library to see why I can't have more than two libraries in my Libby app. Anyway, I managed to get this quilt backing together. I used some bits and pieces to make this one, but since it's for a scrap quilt, it'll be perfect! That was a pretty good estimate. I grabbed several fabrics, and I had a fat quarter-sized piece left! 

Quilt backing for a scrap quilt

I also made a second backing, but with yardage, so that was one seam and super easy! Now, two of the remaining six Quilts of Valour quilts have backings. But there's no time for those as I need to get a couple of customer quilts done. 

The backing for a second quilt

We had a lot of lightning this morning and thunder and some rain. I believe the heat wave has broken. Yeah!! Not that our house was uncomfortable, but I didn't want to walk in the heat in the afternoon. All is good, and wasn't it just last week when we needed long pants? The weather is mad!

Well, I'm off to get some work done. 

Have a great day!

Ciao!!!

Christmas is coming!

The days just seem to be blurring into each other. Where is the time going? I guess as long as you're having fun, that's all that counts!

I had to zip out to check on something at Fabricland and ended up hitting Micheal's to buy some yarn and bought a few things on sale at Fabricland! Of course, I did!! I hardly buy anything anymore, so I was OK with my few purchases. 

But look what I spotted at Micheal's. 

The Wine Tasting and Chocolate shop!

So, while it was sweltering outside and has been for 2 days, and we have one more day, the Christmas stuff is out in full force! While I love these Christmas villages, some of these ones were pretty annoying as they not only moved but played music as well. OK -- that's cute, but after the second time, I'd be shutting that thing off! 

One of the things I've learned from my life is that I CANNOT stand even the slightest little background hum. If I want silence, I want complete silence -- no white noise for me - that would drive me mad. 

I had to laugh as I was on my way to the cash at Micheal's and had to wait for the lady in front of me. I spotted some blank tote bags that one could use for decorating - like using your embroidery machine to dress it up. I spotted three colors in front of me - No orange, so I picked red from whatever the three colors were - I wasn't paying attention, so I have NO idea what they were. 

Then, as I continued to wait, I glanced at the next till, and there were three different colors - one of them being black. AHA - I prefer black to red, so I put the red one back and grabbed the black one. Why black? You can use any color with it, and it looks great. Since I LOVE black and bright, this color works better. 

Tote bag blanks to decorate

WAIT a minute. There's something different about this one! 

Yep --- the black one was polyester, and the others were cotton. I didn't need to look at the label to know the difference. I felt the difference immediately. 

That goes for cotton and polyester quilting fabric. I guess if you've felt different fabrics enough, you can feel the difference. I was tempted to switch back to the red, but I kept the black! I also bought some yarn to experiment with - it's still in the bag, but I hope to play a bit tomorrow. 

I made significant progress on my writing; three of five articles are gone! The project is done, the pictures are taken, and all I have to do is write two more articles. That puts me in good shape, and I hope to complete them today so I can move on to some other things. 

And then I spent the entire evening watching another episode of Race Across the World and some work-related stuff. Watching this travel series just emphasizes how vast our country is and how different it is. Canada is about 8,000 KM coast to coast, while Spain is 800 KM from the French border to the ocean! And while Spain does have different areas - flattish farmland and mountains -- Canada has it all!

Speaking of Spain, so many people develop blisters on their feet. The biggest culprit is usually shoes that are too small. So, it is too small in length and too small in width. Here's what one person did to give themselves a wider toe box!!! I guess it works! 

A wide toebox!

I'm still wearing my larger shoes and not finding them too big. Yes -- they are a wee bit large, but they are not slopping around on my feet. They have a few more KMs on them before they need to be retired, but I have to say that I'm happy with my HOKAs. It's a relatively new brand (at least new to me), and I'd buy them again in a heartbeat! 

The other day, I also fixed my hiking shorts. OK -- so ONLY I would call them hiking shorts, as they are a very loose and short pair of shorts. I cannot imagine hiking (especially in the heat) in knee-length or tight shorts made from Spandex. I would die from the heat. 

The waistband is very wide on them with a wide elastic, and you know what that means. If that elastic is not anchored, it's going to twist. This elastic is anchored at the top in a way I've never seen before, but it still has to be adjusted when I put them on. So I added another row of stitching (zigzag) through the middle of the waistband, so that should make them easier to get on and not have to fuss with the waistband! If I were smart, I'd find or make another pair. They are SUPER comfortable and have two pockets, which my phone (at least my old one) fits in perfectly. ACK --- I bet my new phone won't fit in that pocket. I must test that because it was the best. 

Stitched the waistband of my hiking shorts

I'm also not sure I like this new phone. It's ONLY slightly larger than the other one, but I find it awkward in my hand because of the increased size. And the case I bought is rather slippery - it was in a plastic bag, so I  couldn't feel it. I may buy a new case, as I never thought of testing it for the feel. The old one is also smooth but is made from a different material (OK -- so both are plastic), but it has a different feel and doesn't feel like it's slipping out of my hands when I hold it. Hmm -- next time, it would make sense to test the CASE before the phone because the phone itself feels OK -- but add the case, and those extra millimeters make a difference!!!

Yep --- I HATE change most of the time. I can only say thank goodness I didn't go for the even larger phone because I would have been very unhappy. So this is a good lesson -- keep the phone profile the smallest it can be because you'll love it more! It fits better in a pocket or a pouch, and that's very important to me!

So I'm off to spin class this morning, and I better finish up here. 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

On buying a sewing machine

I have to say that I'm feeling rather lazy these days! Is it the heat? Is it the thought of returning to work with a BANG next week? Is it the looming deadlines? I'm sure it's a combination of all of the above. 

So, while we had Monday sewing, I'm afraid I didn't accomplish much. I trimmed and put the binding on this table runner. I'm still up in the air about quilting the white border. I KNOW --- I do not need to add more quilting, but part of me feels like I NEED to. I should do it, and then I can put it away. WAIT -- that is going in the sample suitcase! At least one more sample is done. 

Snowman table runner

I did straighten out more samples - I must admit that I have more techniques stitched out rather than made into something specific. There are multiple ways to look at that. If I make a pillow, then people only see a pillow. If I made just the stitch out, it could become a pillow, a bag, a quilt, or a table runner. I'm unsure if my strategy is correct, but I don't have time to make finished samples of everything, so stitch-outs and some finished pieces (I have LOTS) will have to do! 

The NEW Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 is now on the website. It's still in the sneak peek stage, as it is officially released in October, but some of the features and benefits are listed. I haven't seen the machine in person and don't expect to until next month, but those NEW features and benefits? Well, I can't wait to try them!!

Here's the thing about fancy sewing machines. There are oodles of bells and whistles on them, and one wonders if they will take advantage of everything. I may not use all the stitches every day, but having access to them is important. I'm so used to some of the fancy features (sewing with them for over 25 years) that I would HATE to work on a machine that doesn't have them! I bought my first "grown-up" sewing and embroidery machine 25 years ago! I bought that machine with embroidery capabilities, NOT because I did machine embroidery -- I had never tried it. But I wanted the capabilities, and I've never looked back!! Now - I'm a machine snob! I don't need the top-of-the-line, but I want excellent functionality. 

The shame is that when someone starts sewing, they can't afford the top-of-the-line machine. So they struggle with some of the smaller machines, with tasks that the higher-end machines take care of for you! Then, they get frustrated and stop sewing when an upgrade could make or break their experience. If you are in the market for a sewing machine, you should first set a budget. Then go shopping. Look at all the features you can get within your budget. Then, do yourself a favor and look at the NEXT machine up the line. What does it have that the one you're looking at doesn't? Ask yourself (or friends) if that's something that would make sewing more easy? How quickly will you outgrow the machine you have, and is there any way possible to just go that one step further? 

I've heard that so often that people wish, they had gone one step higher, even though it would be a stretch financially, but then, it would have eliminated the need to upgrade in the near future!

I made significant progress on my writing. I didn't do any writing, but I almost finished the project - I hope another hour? And then I can finish writing, and it would be awesome if that could happen today! 

So I did a "good" thing yesterday and switched to my new phone. I know -- it's been sitting on the kitchen table for almost a week. I swapped out the SIM card and let it do the automatic transfer. And for the most part, everything switched over pretty seamlessly. I did have to reset a couple of passwords - I know --- I will never get that right, and then I ran into a SNAFU. 

By the way, why can't they transfer all the apps and folders for the apps instead of throwing those apps haphazardly into the new phone? I swear there has to be a better way to sort those apps instead of dragging them from screen to screen. That just seems totally archaic!! Transfer the SET-UP as well as the data!!!!!

Libby, which is the library app, didn't transfer. No - the app transferred, but it asked me for a code to transfer the data. I didn't know where to find the code, so I logged into the app on the new phone. MISTAKE!!! It only opened up with my home library and not the other five I can access. So, only the books related to the Mississauga Library came over. ACK!!! My audiobook was from another library! 

Thankfully, I still have full access to stuff on the old phone, so I'm now carrying two phones around the house, since the old one only works on Wi-Fi! Hopefully, I can get rid of the old one as soon as I finish the audiobook. My issue is how to get those five libraries linked again. This process is NOT intuitive. I seem to muddle my way through it, but this time? It's not working. I can have a maximum of TWO libraries linked, but not all six. 

Sigh --- a trip to the library is to get them to show me, once and for all, how to make that happen. I HATE when I can't figure something out, and this should be so intuitive that a baby could do it. Alas, I am not a child! 

I'm so enjoying The Kitchen  Front, and you can see where it will go (at least where I think it'll go), and I LOVE the book! 

I'm afraid that's it for today! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Is that a waist pouch? A belt bag?

Oh my -- I think Facebook is broken! I have a love/hate relationship with that app. I received many birthday wishes on August 27 -- the day of my birthday. But since then, I have received about 4 or 5 new ones daily! They were generated on August 27, but I guess Facebook thought it was too much to handle if I received them all on the same day! 

And then the friend requests. Like all of you, I'm sure you get friend requests from people who are already your friends. Can they not create a rule for that and eliminate the trolls? And what about the friend requests from people who don't even exist. The AI friends -- good grief -- you would think that Facebook could also create a rule for that. 

I like Facebook, but mainly for a forum for my classes or to stay in touch with widespread friends if I'm away. But day to day? No one needs to see me sleeping in the gazebo, what I'm eating, or where I happen to be shopping that day! 

So I'll suck it up and ignore most of what comes in! OH -- and how much time could one waste with those click baits and the reels. The click-bait leads nowhere, or if they do reach a point, it takes a half hour to get there. STOP reading them!!! If you feel your finger hovering -- just STOP!!! The same goes for the reels. I get that some cute reels are online, especially the doggie ones. But how many of them are stupid -- there is NO POINT to most of the reels. They don't show anything exciting and are just a waste of time!!!!

I could go on and on about how to make your posts more interesting (if you are going to post), but I won't. 

I have nothing I can share with you for what I made yesterday, but I made giant leaps and bounds in my article writing. There is nothing so exciting as going to write an article to find that you've already written it, and it just needs some editing! So that was great, and it's pretty much ready to go, but I didn't send it yet. I wrote a second one, and it's pretty much ready to go, but after some work this morning, I have to adjust some wording slightly. All is good!!!

I'm almost ready to write the third one! The problem with this writing is that you need to do more than sit and write -- you have to do the work, take the pictures, and THEN you get to write. So number four should be done today, as I've almost finished the work and taken all the photos! The last part shouldn't take too long, so I'm in good shape. 

I did nothing on the sample front, but I have everything pulled and hope to finish some samples today while we have Monday Sewing! Yes -- even though it's a holiday, those ladies will sew any day. Heck - they'd sew on Christmas Day if I let them!

The girls and I spent some time in the gazebo, and it was a perfect day. There was a fair amount of wind, so both wind chimes were merrily tinkling or chiming away, and well, yes -- it lulled me to sleep! 

MOM -- trying to get some sleep here! 

At one point, I saw Murphy's toys gathered in one spot. She LOVES her toys, while Lexi doesn't even know what a toy is. There's a teddy bear beneath the ball. So, while we try to have indoor and outdoor toys, that only sometimes happens! 

The gathering of the toys

And here's Miss Murphy sitting like a goof in the kitchen!!!

MOM -- just trying to trip you! 

So here's a thing about pouches - the kind you wear. I now have quite a collection, and I LOVE them all. 

First, there is the question of what to call these things. We used to call them fanny packs, but in Britain, fanny is slang for a lady's private parts. OH! Because our worlds are getting smaller, we will have to make up new words so we don't offend anyone! 

Some people call them a bum pack, but seriously? I don't want a bum pack! 

LuLu Lemon calls them this, and I think it's perfect. 

Label from the Mini Belt Bag

A belt bag --- that's perfect because, in most cases, that's what it is and how we wear it. 

This is the first one I bought just before my trip last summer. 

Belt bag number one

I believe it came from CAA, and while it's small and flat, it's just a bit too small. It had RFID pockets, so great for the credit card and the passport, and if that's all you want to put in it, this is perfect. It's so slim it can fit under your shirt, and no one would know you're wearing it. My issue is that while my phone fit into it, it was tight, and I was worried I would break the zipper with all the times I opened and closed it. I solved that problem this year by putting my phone in my pocket. And the pilgrim passport was too big to fit in this belt bag. 

Then I found this one last summer as well and left it behind. I did NOT need two bags; this one has only one pocket, while the one above had two. Europe is very cash-focused, at least where I was in Spain, and there was no place to put coins (big in Europe). 

So, with this one having only one pocket and a little pouch, it wouldn't work. HOWEVER, this is the belt bag I wear to walk the dogs, especially in the summer when I have no pockets. There's a place to put my phone and a little pocket for the poop bags. It's perfect!

Belt bag number two

I was going to make one this year, but that didn't happen, so I found this one online. While it's good, it also has its faults. I know - if I want the perfect thing, I must make it!!!

This has two handy pockets and a little pouch. The large one in the back worked for my passport and pilgrim passport. The front one worked for credit cards and cash bills. The little pouch worked like a charm for an elastic for my hair and the coins. There was also room to put my phone in the big pocket if I wanted, but as I said, I kept it handy in my pocket. OH -- I also found this one too long or would that be wide? While it looks the same width as the one above, it's pretty rigid as the one pocket goes the entire length, so the zipper made it rigid. I'm not that wide and flat! 

Belt bag number three

And then I got this belt bag for my birthday! Yep -- it's orange!! All the previous ones are flat, so you can't put much more in them than documents, which is perfect for travel. Who wants to walk around with a heavy bag flapping around your waist? Not me!!! 

This one is thicker, so you can put keys or other small items in it. 

Belt bag number four

Now, here's the big thing --- should one wear it around your waist, or is it a cross-body bag? The cross-body bag has become a HUGE fashion statement, and it just means that instead of attaching it around your waist, you sling it over one shoulder and under your arm. OK -- I "stole" this picture from the internet. 

A "cross-body" bag

None of the above are cross-body bags. Why? Some don't have a long enough strap to make that happen - trust me, no one wants the bag sitting directly on your boob. And none of them have angled straps as they enter the bag. Trust me -- it makes a difference!!! Look at the picture - you can see how the strap is sort of twisted as it exits the bag.

I like this little one as a cross-body bag, but I may modify how the straps are sewn so they lie flat as I wear it cross-body. A slight angle and this would look nicer. Oh gosh -- am I picky or what? It doesn't look this neat in person! 

There is a divider in the middle of this one, so it helps to keep things organized. 

I have never been a big purse person and prefer to carry a few things with me -- keys, card holder, and phone. That's it -- all I need to do anything. So I like the idea of these little bags. But, like anything, you should check them out and see what works for you. 

In an ideal world, there would be a space for the passport (and a pilgrim passport - of course!), cash and credit cards, a place for coins, and that damn phone! Preferably in separate pockets, not too wide, and flat! Oh -- I could just suck it up and use what I have!!! 

I will say they are the handiest things in the world and so perfect for travel! 

On that note, it's time to get moving! Loads to do today!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Up-to-DATE!!!

Wow -- where does the time go? I was doing something this morning and thought -- just a few more minutes. A half-hour later, I look up and take a breath! 

I had a good chuckle this morning as I surveyed Studio B. It will NEVER be tidy. I will NEVER get all the projects completed that are sitting out. It just isn't going to happen! But I'll keep plugging away, and who knows -- maybe someday it'll look better. However, it's a WORKING studio -- the stuff never stays in one place for long before it does get finished and replaced by something else. If the stuff sat there for months, then I'd be worried. OK -- who am I kidding -- some stuff has sat for months! 

However, I accomplished a ton yesterday, and I've got pictures to share! I was determined to get up-to-date with The Barn Star Sampler. I really need that out of the way, and even though I was tired -- well, I wasn't, but my back was, I am now up-to-date until it's time to prep for the next class, which isn't for one month. 

16" block

16" block

The remainder of these blocks are 8". While that's less sewing than the 16" block, these still took time as you had to make half square triangles, flying geese, and the square in a square. 

8" block

8" block

8" block

Then, onto the last three blocks from the May homework. Of course, I left the fiddiest blocks until the end, and I swear I was reading a different pattern when I cut these. I had to dig out the background fabric for all three blocks and cut more or different pieces. 

8" block

8" block

8" block

You bet I used the moveable laser on the PFAFF creative icon2 to sew all the diagonal lines, saving a lot of time. What would one do without that moveable laser? It also had a fantastic projecting grid, but I didn't need that. I usually piece on my Husqvarna Viking EPIC2, but it's time to sew with the icon2 as I have mainly used it for embroidery! Share the wealth!

So, I mostly chain-pieced those blocks, but I had to use a few enders and leaders. And I pressed and trimmed those as I went. 

Half-square triangles sewn as enders and leaders

There are a lot of "waste" triangles in this quilt, and I'm not one to waste things, so all the enders and leaders are from this quilt. This is what I have accomplished so far. I have no idea what I'll do with them yet, but they will be ready to sew!

All the half-square triangles from the waste triangles

However, I'm "behind" as there is a HUGE pile that can be used for enders and leaders! 

Waste triangles still to sew

And here are all my blocks. Hmmm -- those two on the bottom are pretty visually heavy -- well, the blocks are NOT placed as they appear in the quilt. However, I have run out of room on my portable design wall! The quilt is 80" by 100", and we still have 16 blocks to make! Good grief -- I said I would never do a large quilt again! Did you see one 24" block lying on the side? 

All my blocks for The Barn Star Sampler so far

Someone asked me the other day how you trim one of these blocks. The answer is you should NOT have to trim. If you've been diligent about cutting and trimming the individual components like the flying geese, square in a square, then everything should fit together, and no need to trim the block. 

Here's my scrap box after my session. 

Citrus colored scraps

So now that that is caught up, it's time to move on to something else. I have a few things on the cutting table that I want to get done today, and I have a project to make and write about, so that has to be the focus of today and tomorrow. 

But I managed to sort and put away the three bags of scraps that had been hanging around. That is always a thankless job, but it didn't take that long, and when you go to your scrap bin, the pieces are sorted!!! I have not finished cutting and sorting the brown scrap bins, and I see others are overdue for some loving! Yep -- the lids are popping!!!

Sorting scraps

As I've been digging out samples for my events in September, a few need to be finished. So those are stacked in a pile, and I need to tackle those this coming week. 

Samples to finish

And there are a few projects on the floor that need to be finished as well. None of these will take long, so if I can focus, I can make quick work of them. And yes --- we can laugh all the way to the sewing machine about that!!!!

Serging projects to complete

I don't know what happened with my birthday! In the last couple of days, I've received birthday wishes on Facebook that were sent days ago! I guess that is Facebook's way of saying that we don't care about dates as long as the message gets delivered at some point! So if you sent a birthday wish and I haven't acknowledged you, there's a good chance I didn't get it!!!

Speaking of birthday wishes, I picked up the mail on Friday and saw this interesting envelope. Hmm - Air Mail even. I wonder what it is and who it's from. 

Air Mail 

Then I opened it up to find a PUZZLE!!! How cool is that and when I saw who it was from, I had a great laugh!!!! She knows who she is and is always finding cute ways of bringing a smile to my face!!! Thanks so much, and NO, she didn't send it Air Mial -- that was a disguise!!!! 

My birthday wishes

OK -- -so you want to know the events I'm hosting at The Sewing Machine Store in Saskatoon. Here's the information. You can check out more details on their website. 

Thursday, September 14, from 1 - 4 PM  --- Garmet sewing techniques for everyday projects. We will look at garments and some of the techniques and tools that can make or break your project. Then, we'll look at incorporating some of those techniques into other projects. It's a great lecture and lots of tips for garments!!!

Thursday, September 14, from 6 - 9 PM --- Machine Embroidery -- where to begin. If you want to know about machine embroidery and need help figuring out where to start -- I have some great tips to get you started and loads of inspiration that you'll want to dive right into!!!! 

Friday, September 15 --- A hands-on event using the PFAFF creative icon2 where we create a project in the hoop - super cute funfur monsters with a wild choice of faces, arms, and legs. These are so much fun!!! It's a GREAT day to test the icon2 if you think you might like to buy one!!!

Oh -- the fun we are going to have that week!!! So, if you're in the Edmonton or Saskatoon area on those dates, check out the events. It's going to be a blast!! Even if you have a different brand of machine, you will still learn something, and maybe you'll want to switch brands!!! 

I finished both books yesterday! Did they end well? As well as they could have -- you have to take some bad with the good! And now I have one more audiobook to read -- The Kitchen Front, about a cooking contest during the war. It's pretty funny and an eye-opener for those of us who never lived on rations! Imagine being TOLD by the government what you could and could not buy each week at the grocery store to ensure there was enough food to go around! Yes -- we live in very coddled times. 

OK --- it's time to go, as there is MUCH I want to make happen today, and the girls are waiting! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

A race across the world!

That mental health day was good! It got me fired up to get to work yesterday! And while I don't have much to show for it, I feel accomplished. 

I'll be back on the road soon with SVP and have events in Edmonton and Saskatoon. So -- if you're going to be in that area, here's what's happening. 

On September 11 and 12, I'll be at Central Sewing in Edmonton. There are three events - 

Monday - September 11 at 9:30 - 12:30 -- Adventure in Applique -- this is EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about applique and more!! The lecture is NOT about how to do applique, but what are the possibilities in the applique world and what tools/technology we can use! Of course, I throw in tips -- I can't help myself. 

Tuesday - September 12 at 9:30 - 12:30 - mySewnet - all about the technology for machine embroidery. So much is now interconnected - embroidery machines, software, how we get embroidery designs, and we'll take a tour of it all!

Tuesday - September 12 at 1:30 - 4:30 - Accessories and more --- I'm going to pick some of my favorite accessories in the Husqvarna Viking world, and I'll be providing tips and tricks to use them more. 

You can sign up for these sessions on the website of the Central Sewing store. Check under the class tab -- or use the link above. We will have loads of fun, and you will be sorry if you can't make it!!!!

And then off to Saskatoon (Sept 14 and 15) for more teaching at The Sewing Machine Store. I don't have time this morning to give you those details. You'll get them tomorrow, but you can always browse their website. 

Educators can't be everywhere all the time, so if you can -- check out those lectures above -- they are CRAMMED with information and loads of samples. I'm revamping my presentations and making a few new samples. I'm focusing on the Husqvarna Viking brand in Edmonton, PFAFF, and Husqvarna Viking in Saskatoon. But hey -- if you have a different brand and want to check it out -- don't be shy!!! 

I worked on two presentations yesterday and almost have them just the way I want! It's a constant evolution to keep on top of that. Could this be the right formula now? I doubt it -- I'll change my mind in the order I want to present things or add new ideas --- I know I will. And well, I may have to break down and take two suitcases of samples! ACK!!!!! Not because of the quantity but because of the weight. Let's see how the packing goes later this week. 

I also have a couple of events in Ontario in September, and I'll give you more details in the next day or so. 

Making that much headway was exhilarating, if one can call updating PowerPoint such a lofty goal! 

On the Camino, I met Mick  (from the UK), who offered to send me a couple of British TV shows. DH thinks I've gone to the dogs and am watching too much TV!!! I limit it to one episode of something daily if I'm watching a series. Then I don't watch for months. So technically, it's TV watching, but very selective and not a constant all-evening thing. 

There's a show called Race Across the World, and this was season three. OH MY GOSH -- I watched the second episode last night, and it's crazy. Five teams (two people per team) are given a limited budget (I think it was 2,500 £ per person - the cost of the airfare if they were to fly across the country). So where are they? They were flown to Vancouver, and their goal was to cross Canada. All the way to St. John's, which is approximately 8,000 KM. But NO -- they are taking the scenic route and were routed to Dawson City (a checkpoint). 

Many things are captivating about this show. First, the scenery is gorgeous, and they do a fantastic job of filming it. Second, I've been to most of the places they have shown so far. Does anyone remember Diamond Tooth Gertie's in Dawson City? That was such a HOT HOT HOT day when we were there. Third --- they have to make some crazy choices, as there is NO public transportation in many areas they are traveling. And it goes to show how different Canada is from Europe. If you want to go from A to B in Europe, you get on a train or bus. You can go just about anywhere. In Canada? The public transit system only exists in major cities!!! Even our bus and train systems are sketchy between centers. So you can see the dilemma. 

Many are hitchhiking, but since that is illegal, there are ways to get around that. It's a super interesting show, and I'm loving it! They have something like 6 days to reach each new checkpoint, so some of them are off skiing, touring, or whatever. I think some of the stuff is arranged behind the scenes? I don't know the logistics, but it's a great show. 

Thanks to Mick for sending that my way!!!!

Winter is coming; by the looks of the forest, it's coming FAST. Many areas of the forest floor are littered with acorns. I haven't been hit by any yet, but you can hear them dropping all around as you walk. There are no caps on these ones, but others still have their caps on. I hope those squirrels come down and clean up the mess!!!!

Acorns in the forest

On my afternoon walk, I stopped at the thrift store and spotted a Barbie sewing machine! Oh my -- just what I always wanted!!! I did NOT buy it. I didn't buy anything else either - I was just there checking! And yes -- on some things, their prices are almost in line with buying regular retail. There were two small balls of yard in one bag for $5. I just purchased a similar ball of yarn at Wal-Mart for $2.50. So it's NOT cheaper, but you can get other things you couldn't get elsewhere. I'm not going into the politics of thrift stores. 

Barbie sewing machine

At last, there's the final block of the summer homework for The Barn Star Sampler. Good grief -- those blocks took quite a while to put together, and I wish I could say I'm done! 

Barn Star Sampler block

I still have to catch up on the May homework, so the last three blocks are now cut. I got some sewing done this morning but did not complete a block. 

More blocks are cut and ready to sew

I'm getting to the end of TWO books -- one an e-book and one an audiobook. Both are page-turners --- the characters get themselves into such a situation, and how will they get out? Will the end be good or bad? So many questions!!!! Do you ever wonder if the author knows the ending before they start writing? Or are they sitting on pins and needles as they ponder how to end the book? And why don't we like unhappy endings? 

Then I'm going to swear off books until my trip as I have a lot to prepare! 

And now I'm off to get more done today!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Mental health days are important

Well, I won't say I didn't accomplish anything -- let's call it a mental health day! Or perhaps it was a lesson from the Camino day! 

I spent some time visiting with a friend in the morning, which was great. You see people on Zoom, but it's different, and it's so nice to visit in person and not worry about over-talking!!! We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and her lovely backyard. 

Once I got home, it was lunchtime. Since it was such a nice day, I sat in the gazebo. One thing led to another, and pretty soon, I was napping. Then I read, then I napped, and well -- I stayed there all afternoon! I didn't even go for a second walk! GASP!!!! I know - but it was so nice, and I had company, and well -- even though I have loads of things to do -- I just decided it was a ME day. It felt great!

I have learned one thing about myself: if I have a meeting or appointment in the morning, that blows my entire afternoon. If I want to get work done, I need to start in the morning, and then I can continue in the afternoon. But that's OK - a day here and there won't hurt anything, and I've known that fact for a long time. 

It was a long pant day yesterday. And even when I took the girls for their morning walk, I wore a vest as it was cool! But it's incredible how quickly one can warm up. By the time I got back from the walk and manhandling those two rowdy girls, I could have done without the vest. 

I was brave on the Camino. Even though it was cool to start, I sucked it up with a short-sleeved T-shirt, although sometimes I wore my long-sleeved one. Then, after about 30 minutes of walking, I was warm, so I didn't have to take a jacket on and off. Not that one needed to be efficient with time since I had all day to walk, but I was not taking that backpack on and off. That was a relatively easy task, but why bother! 

I did get some quilt-related stuff done this morning. I have three sets of blocks that I need to cut for the Batn Star Sampler. So, I managed to get two of the three blocks cut. Yeah!!! 

I think these are the blocks for May, which I didn't have time to cut and sew before the class. There are two of this block - all cut and ready to sew. 

Two blocks for the Barn Star Sampler

This is one of the smaller blocks, and there are three of this one, and they are also ready to sew. 

Three more blocks for the Barn Star Sampler

I have one more set of blocks to cut, which I hope to get done today. Then all the cutting is up-to-date, which will be great. Then I have to piece those blocks, and I'm caught up. Then it'll almost be time to start on the next set of homework blocks, but that class is in October. WAIT -- that's next month now!!!

I had to laugh at my lazy afternoon, which was spent with this view when I looked up! 

Looking up in the gazebo

But the sun hits some part of the gazebo all afternoon. So, about once an hour, I had to rotate my chair to keep out of the sun! That was the most challenging task I did all day! 

While the view is blocked with trees, I'm good with that -- it makes it very cozy when this is the view. 

The view from the gazebo

And there was the occasional tinkle from one of the two wind chimes. That gazebo is the BEST thing about the backyard. I could spend the entire day there -- OH -- I did spend the whole afternoon there. 

My glass windchimes

Of course, I was not alone. She just has to be the center of attention. ALWAYS!!!! 

MOM -- can you see me? 

And this is Lexi, who doesn't care what happens around her as long as she has food in her dish to eat WHEN she wants and her Dad to pat her. 

MOM -- Life is too short to waste time being silly like my sister!

And then, when you think Murphy can't get any closer, she does! She sticks her head under the arm of the chair so she can be close. If she was smaller, she'd be constantly in my lap. 

MOM -- I NEED to be close to you! 

And yes -- we played ball. She had to learn some new landing spots since I was throwing from the gazebo. But she's pretty clever and has quite a path system under the bushes. Let's say no weeds are growing under the bushes because she's always under them looking for the ball! 

MOM -- I'm right here if you want to play ball! 

I see that some of my unsubscribing hasn't worked, as I'm getting a few e-mails from companies I know I unsubscribed. I wonder how that works? Did I goof up, or did their system ignore my request? There was one company I had to unsubscribe about four times before it actually kicked in. But slow and steady -- I'm deleting, and then when I have all that fun done, I can tackle my hard drives. 

As long as I keep plugging away and REFUSE to sign up for anything, it's incredible how many times you get a notification to sign up for our newsletter. I get it -- I really get it, but we just have to be selective about what we sign up for. I do not need MANY e-mails from cutesy (and very similar) designers all trying to teach me how to make half-square triangles or offering a free (and usually not nice) pattern. I don't need FREE!!!! 

I made good progress in my e-book that I'm reading on my phone. I'm shocked that I'm actually reading on the phone. I didn't think I could do it! But I really must get back to reading physical books, and the physical books are on my shelf. I need to get rid of them!!!! There are a couple of used book sales coming up that I would love to go to, but do I really need to? Probably not!

The simple act of taking time to do ONE thing - read a book or only sew is HEAVEN. I don't need to be a hero and do a thousand things in one day. Sometimes, just sitting and reading or napping is a good thing! 

OK -- so I must get moving as I really need to hit the computer this morning and hopefully get some sewing or embroidery done this afternoon. Time is running out, and I need to take stock of some samples that need to be made. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!