All posts by Sherry

Happy Birthday Ken

May 8, 2021

Cuppa (from the Splendid Sampler 2 collection)

There is lot of appliqué in this card but I used the glue method rather than my usual product to attach the pieces to the background. I was pleased with the results – there was no slippage as I stitched. I also had a tip from another quilter about using tissue paper as a backing when doing the appliqué stitches and they came out quite even. For the embroidery I did a quick YouTube video and realized I’ve been doing my stem stitch wrong. I’m not sure it gave me the confidence to do a lot more embroidery work but at least I got through the card.

Ken is celebrating a milestone birthday this year and I would like to be there to celebrate with him but in this Covid-19 era that just isn’t possible. When all of this is behind us I hope we can enjoy several cups of coffee and catch up. Maybe there will even be cake!

I keep my promises

Saturday, May 8, 2021

I promised yesterday to get out in the yard today and that is exactly what I did. I think I’ve discovered the secret to getting outside – I need to start outside first thing in the morning before I get involved in something else and start finding excuses not to go out later in the day.

I weeded the daisy bed today. The rain we have had made it much easier to pull up chunks of root – mainly bindweed. Bindweed and I have made an agreement; I’ll let it grow and flower on the stone wall outside of the fence if it doesn’t start making trails inside the fence. I know I’ll stick to my end of the bargain but I can’t count on the bindweed.

I was going to cut the grass but it was still a bit too damp. I sat on the patio for my coffee break and by the time I was finished the weather was closing in. There were only a few spits of rain and the sun was back shining again shortly after I came inside. It’s been on-and-off sprinkles all day.

I did a quick look around the yard and everything is coming up and growing. The Solomon Seal are in blossom as are the Lily of the Valley. There are buds on the peonies and one of the hydrangeas is starting to flower. The lilac bush is in full bloom and although the smell wasn’t as awesome this morning as some days I’ll be back in that corner the next time I’m weeding just so I get the full effect of it. There are blooms on the roses and a couple of early daisies are out; the irises are about to burst too.

I was able to get a card done this afternoon – all the way from piecing to quilting plus a bit of embroidery on it. I’ll sit and stitch the binding now and it will be ready for the mail on Monday.

Another day … another line

Friday, May 7, 2021

Another day of quilting and I’m surprised that it is going as well as it is – touch wood it continues that way. Granted I’m only doing straight line quilting but if you have to turn the quilt from one line to the next there is a lot of bulk on a queen-sized quilt. I may finish one end of the quilt today; if not today then I’ll finish it off tomorrow morning. There are a lot of ends to tie in but isn’t that what early mornings are for?

I missed my chance to go out to the letterbox this morning so I went up to the post office to drop off my mail. While I was out I stopped at the library and picked up another book. Goodreads tells me I’m behind in my goal. The book I’m reading now isn’t a favourite so I’m slow at getting it done. But with three library books stacked up I think I’ll be able to get through them quickly and be caught back up.

It was so nice out today that I should have been out in the yard but I can’t seem to get my mind off this quilt (at least until this section is done). I don’t know what the weather is to be like for tomorrow but, if it is nice, I promise to spend some time out there. Sunday is Mother’s Day and Pat asked me what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day; I said a drive if it is a nice day. There really is nowhere to drive to but I’m tired of the route from home to the library and back. I don’t intend to do any weeding or quilting on Sunday – cross stitch and reading are also in my plans.

Done – sort of

Thursday, May 6, 2021

I spent all day yesterday (except for a short nap in the afternoon) quilting; Pat had an online event in the evening so I even spent some time after supper. After another full morning I’m happy to say I’ve accomplished what I set out to do in this particular session. The quilt isn’t finished yet but I’m a lot closer to being done.

I have a few cards I should start to work on but I think I’ll do a bit of fill-in quilting in spots that I missed in the first go-round. I didn’t actually miss them but after getting this last part finished I can see where some of the lines I did in the centre can now be extended. If I run short of time for the cards I know I have several tops finished and set aside.

I have a Guild meeting tonight and I’ve learned my lesson. I wrote a report so there would be no chance of me volunteering myself for anything.