All posts by Sherry

Checking it twice

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

I was busy sewing binding on a couple of cards this morning when it dawned on me that I should double check my card list. When I did I realized I had missed some very important people.

That led me down the rabbit hole to find another pattern to use for a few more cards. I’ve found one I really like and I’m hoping I can figure out how to do it without having to purchase the pattern. I’ve come a long way in my quilting journey to even think I could do that.

My last 12-Days package went in the mail this afternoon; the post office is getting busy. Every time I congratulate myself on how well I am doing getting gifts organized I run into another snag. I think I have the solutions I need though and I’ll be out shopping again tomorrow.

I’ve had a lovely afternoon of hand stitching and I’m going to return to it now.

Back to the drawing board

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

I took another look at my Christmas card list and realized I didn’t need as many more cards as I thought. I got started on the pattern that I took to Texada; I’m glad I decided to do a prototype rather than start a production line. I’ve made the card before but I don’t remember it being as fiddly as this one turned out to be. My choice of fabric wasn’t great and the prototype ended up in the bin.

Not to be discouraged though I found another way to get a very similar-looking design but in a much easier way. I have the tops done, except for a bit of hand stitching. I’ll get them finished and bound tomorrow.

My other idea for a line of cards was thwarted by the lack of shopping in Powell River. I wanted some felt; my only choice was Walmart and they don’t carry the felt squares I wanted (as I write that I’m thinking I should have also checked the dollar store). I have some felt that I use for my chickens but I don’t have much of it. If I can’t get any more I’ll take another look and see if I can spare a sheet or two so I can carry on with my plan.

My second 12-Days box went into the mail today – both say they will arrive by December 1st. Pat took care of a couple of online orders for me so I’m better prepared than I have ever been. I may even have time to clean up my sewing room before Christmas.

The Canucks are playing a game tonight so I’m off to find some hand stitching to keep me occupied while the game is on.

Progress?

Monday, November 27, 2023

I only lasted a day and a half at the Guild’s Community Quilts weekend. On the plus side though, except for borders, I finished the project I took to work on. It was a totally scrappy pattern and, to be honest, it would have been nicer if the fabrics hadn’t been quite so ugly or so similar. The fabrics were all donated to the Guild, some many years ago, and I was trying to use them up.

The Guild weren’t sandwiching quilts this time but I brought four of my donation quilts to leave for the next time they sandwich. I had another one that will be a donation but, at the last minute, I decided it was too small and I needed to add borders. I brought home a sandwich to quilt and when I got it home I remembered I already had one to quilt. I’ll get to them eventually and no one seems to be keeping track of where the quilts are or how long they have been out.

I wanted to get so much done today but I really haven’t accomplished much. I finished wrapping the last of the 12-Days packages and got one off in the mail this afternoon. I’ve sorted through the box of Guild fabric and picked out almost enough different strips to make another quilt top. There are still lots of strips in the box but I’ll find another pattern that will work with them.

I would have liked to have some cards to hand stitch tonight but I didn’t get that far. I think I still have time to mark some fabric circles and I can cut them out while I relax tonight. I’m making good progress on my crocheted tablecloth but I feel like I should be working on something that actually needs to get done.

Speaking of which, I did laundry today so I’d better put some clothes away and make the bed.

The Callahan Brothers Trilogy

Author: Joann Ross

I picked this book up at a yard sale this past summer. For $1 it promised a lot of reading; whether it was good or bad was yet to be seen. Because I had a short-term loan from the library I didn’t get past the first story but I will continue on eventually.

Blue Bayou

Bad boy, Jake Callahan served as an undercover agent before losing his best friend in an operation in Columbia. He returned home to Louisiana and began a very successful writing career. He purchased the antebellum home of his former girlfriend. When the girlfriend, Danielle, also returns to Blue Bayou things begin to heat up. Long kept secrets are revealed but, of course, the two end up in a “happy ever after” ending.

River Road

Finn, the eldest of the Callahan brothers and an FBI Special Agent, has returned to Blue Bayou while he serves out a suspension from the FBI. As a favour to his younger brother he accepts an assignment as a bodyguard to a soap-opera star who is about to become the latest Bond girl. Boy meets girl, boy and girl dislike one another from the start, yada, yada, yada.

Magnolia Moon

Nate is the youngest of the Callahan brothers. Unlike his older siblings Nate has remained in Blue Bayou and is the mayor. He is well known in the area for his restoration work on the heritage buildings. While clearing out some old files from the sheriff’s office he comes across some very valuable stock certificates and sets out to find not only the current owner of them but also to solve a cold case – the murder of the original owner. Boy meets girl, falls in love, but the girl is less than enthusiastic until she eventually succumbs to Nate’s charms.

Goodreads Rating: * *