Wednesday, May 12, 2021

For the last couple of nights I have tried to sit and watch TV without having some sort of stitching in my hands. I just couldn’t do it; I was falling asleep. And if I fall asleep who will wake Pat up when he falls asleep?

I wanted to get that batch of wool posted for sale today but I thought I’d empty out the wicker basket it was in to see what else I had. My decision was easy – I would pull the bag out and if I didn’t immediately think, “I could make ___ with this” it was going up for sale. Surprisingly I only found two other collections that I didn’t want to keep.

It wasn’t long after I put up the postings that I got a buyer for two of the items; sadly the wool is still waiting for someone to want it. However, that is the bundle that I know someone can use if it doesn’t sell.

I’ve spent some time quilting my mystery quilt this afternoon. I’ll draw the final batch of lines on the quilt and probably do a bit more sewing.

I pulled out a new pattern and yarn for my evenings and I might get that started tonight. Pat has two back-to-back online sessions tonight so there will be a lot less TV though.

Based on the yarn I have left in that bin I see a lot more scarves and shawls in my future.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Two days into this online mystery quilt and I’m already behind. The four blocks yesterday led me to believe it would be easy to keep up with the clues but today I needed to make 20 blocks and that just wasn’t going to happen. I managed to get four blocks done and I have the other 16 cut out and ready to use as leaders and enders when I do my next miniature. Who knows what tomorrow will bring though.

I finished two more cards this morning. I’ll sit and stitch the binding tonight.

I was having such a hard time with my knitting last night that I told Pat I was done with all the yarn and I was either going to sell it or give it away. I’m having second thoughts today but I’m definitely going to sell the stuff I have been working with the last couple of evenings. It is 100% wool and I was making an afghan; the pattern I was using is better suited to a lot of colours, not the single ecru colour I had. The wool kept breaking, particularly the first and second balls; before giving up totally it seemed to be working better but I didn’t like the whole mess so what I have done is going into the scrap bin and I’ll try to sell the remainder. I have someone I could give it to and he will get it if I don’t manage to sell it.

I’m not sure about the rest of the yarn I have. I think if it doesn’t inspire me I’ll sell it (provided I have a decent amount in the same colour) or pack it up for the thrift shop. I’m making things just to use it up and not necessarily enjoying any of it.

But for tonight I have my bindings to stitch.

Monday, May 10, 2021

I had a lovely day yesterday; I purposely spent the day relaxing; I was happy to know I can still do that. I needed a new project for the evenings so I dug into my bin and pulled out what was right on top. Once I knew the yarn I had to find a pattern. While I was sorting through the patterns I set a few aside to send to the thrift store. I was so relaxed that it didn’t even bother me when I had to reverse stitch almost all of the cross stitch that I did in the morning when I realized I had miscounted.

But it was back to normal today. The first clue on an online mystery quilt pattern was release. I didn’t plan to do it clue by clue because I wanted to see the entire pattern first. But the first clue only wanted four nine-patches so I dug into my scraps and got them done before breakfast.

After the video chat I headed out into the yard. It was a very satisfying day as I was clearing out around the lilac bush; the smell was amazing and, had my back not protested strongly, I could have worked out there much longer. Not to worry though as there are enough spots left in that section of the bed that I’ll get another days work before the blossoms drop.

I made two card tops this afternoon and I’ll work at quilting them tomorrow.

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.