I’ve had quite a lag in my postings of late. When I wrote my previous posts I imagined myself writing a letter but now that the automated messaging isn’t working for me I don’t feel very motivated. However, after reading Dad’s Journal from 1947 I started to think that maybe, in 70+ years, someone might enjoy reading my musings.
We had a great trip and visit in Saskatoon. Lots of time spent with Kathryn and family and we enjoyed spending Alex’s 13th birthday with him. They had a new Monopoly Bid game that we played (and I lost badly at) and another game called Ticket to Ride (which I lost even worse). We went bowling; Pat and I think that the last time we bowled was probably eleven or twelve years ago. I was as bad at that as I was at the games.
We stayed with Deloise and Laurie so we had time for a good visit with them. Audrey, Jackie and Stacia came for lunch one day so we were all able to catch up on our news. We chat every week but we never seem to run out of things to talk about.
This morning I had my weekly chat with Stacia and Deloise. Again, we never run out of things to chat about and, surprisingly, not all of it involves our sewing projects.
It has been raining heavily all day today and I’ve started quilting on my September UFO project – Secret Santa. It is going well and, with luck, I’ll finish it tomorrow.
As usual, I will be crocheting tonight. I’m working on an afghan for a birthday gift that is coming up in November. Not my usual last-minute idea which is a good thing.
Pat has suggested that I could collect names and send my postings out as an e-mail to anyone who is interested. If that would work for you let me know and I’ll start a list. It wouldn’t be any extra work for me and I think I’d feel less like I was talking to the void.
We arrived home from Texada this morning and I’ve been busy, busy, busy. After everything was unpacked I had to make a quick trip to the library; my book was due yesterday. Normally I’d hit the book return before the library opened for the day but I had two more books to pick up so that wasn’t an option. I don’t think I’ll be charged a fine for being late but if I am I’m okay with it. When that was taken care of I picked up a few groceries since I was in the same strip mall.
It was a great week at the studio but next time I go I’m not going to take so much to do so I’ll be able to spend a bit more time relaxing. I feel like I need a nap this afternoon but I’m going to power through as I have a lot to do. I didn’t get everything done that I hope to while I was away but I made a good start.
My September cards are done and I have a few of them ready for the mail tomorrow. I tried a new method for the binding on some of them but I wasn’t impressed with the technique and I didn’t think it finished as well as the way I’ve been doing them. Practice might improve that but I’m going to stick with what I know works.
Sunshine
Laundry Basket Quilt
I managed to get one mystery quilt top put together and a good start on the second one. I had a few clues that needed to be done for the second mystery and they took much longer than I thought they would but I kept at it every day well past when I wanted to quit in hopes I could finish. When I showed Pat what I had done on the second mystery he noticed an error. In the whole jumble of colours and patterns I was amazed that I found a mistake and fixed it before Pat found this second one. I’ll get it taken out and put back correctly; I’m not sure when that will happen or when the quilt top will get done.
I started my Peppermint Purple project but found the lighting just didn’t work – and I’m not sure it will be any better now that I’m home. The thread colour against the fabric hardly shows. I was also stitching the pattern from my computer screen and paper works much better as I can mark what I’ve done and where I’m going next. To make it even more complicated it was a pattern that had to be tilted on its side to match the layout I was doing. I got anther clue for it today so I’ll give them both a try tonight while Pat has an online session.
I managed another cross stitched quilt block and started on the last one. Actually the one I stitched was the last one but I wanted to redo one of the patterns because I had it very off-centred and I didn’t think it would work for my plan. And I guess because I was tired in the evenings I made a big mistake and last night I had to take apart almost everything I had done.
Things are also heating up with the Hall and the Guild. The new Public Health Orders have put a spin on every event – some are cancelling due to the new restrictions and everyone else is wondering what we are doing. I’ve told them there is no choice – they have to follow the restrictions. I’m trying to get more of the Board members interested but they don’t seem to be very anxious about it all. I said to Pat that I seemed to be the only one who cared and he agreed. But I was able to come back with “That’s why I have to stay on the Board”!
There was a message on the phone when we were away from the woman running the Program Committee for the Guild. I thought she was calling about a meeting to plan the year but when we chatted this afternoon she asked me to run another mystery quilt for the year. I thought after two years no one would want another mystery but apparently in the survey they did everyone loved the way it was done last year and wanted another one. Since I revealed the designer last year I don’t think I can get away with using another one of her patterns. I have a plan though and I’ll see how it works out.
Now, I’d better get back to work. My upstairs unpacking isn’t done yet and all of the bedrooms need to be cleared before Christy arrives on Sunday.
I’ve got a new chair – well to be honest Pat got a new chair and I got a new-to-me chair (his old one). It is so comfortable I’ll be able to spend hours at my computer (as if I don’t already) and I have enough chairs in my space that I don’t have to keep moving them from one spot to another depending on where I’m working. I can even say that some of that desk-mess has been tidied.
I’ve posted a couple of quilting finishes over the past few days, as well as a book finish this morning. I wasn’t sure if anyone was actually going to the website but I had a message this morning from someone who had looked (thank you Barb) as well as Kathryn telling me last night that she had been checking it out. I often feel like I’m writing into the void but as long as I know someone is reading it I’ll continue.
We are waiting this afternoon for our farm produce to arrive and then we’ll head across to Texada for a week. Pat will need to come home one night for his performance on Sunday evening but I’m fine staying overnight on my own. I’m hoping to get my September cards done (there are a lot of them) as well as two mystery quilt tops put together. And just in case time stands still over there I have my blackwork embroidery, some cross stitch, a library book and a loaded Kindle.
If we are lucky we’ll make the 3:45 and, if not, we’ll be on the next one at six.
The show last night worked out very well. I spent the entire evening out on the deck at the Hall; it was the best place to be as several of our audience members came out from time to time to cool off and get a bit of air. I wasn’t inside the main hall during the show but I think the spacing worked out well. We made a few bucks by selling cold drinks and the performers each went home with a healthy cheque.
I was up early this morning so I could shop for groceries before the store got too crowded. I was home and had the groceries put away well before eight. Most of the rest of the morning was spent catching up on paperwork for the Hall
Late this morning and into the early afternoon I finished stitching down the binding on my Super Nova quilt. I don’t consider it “Done” until I have the website updated but I’m certainly finished this month’s UFO early.
For the rest of my day I’ve been working on my mixer cover. This one is just a trial run for one that I’ll make Christy. Not only is my fabric like a jungle it is so hot it feels like the jungle here in my sewing room.
