Saturday, March 13, 2021

Up until right now I have thoroughly enjoyed my day. It’s been another day of cards and I have all but one completed – they were all fun and went together well.

The first card was an Sunbonnet Sue appliqué; I love Sunbonnet Sue so this was a fun one to start the day with. Next up was a hexi; because I already had some hexie’s prepared I changed up the pattern just a bit so I could use what I had. Then came a card with templates but on the first try I managed to get all of the pieces going in the right direction (I usually struggle with this when one piece has to be the reverse of another).

My last card was paper-pieced, something I don’t usually have a problem with. I was sure I had enough of the background fabric to make the card but on the last two sections I ran out. I added a different one in but it is so obvious that I’m not going to be able to use it and I think that means I need to pretty much start all over on some of the pieces. And to add to the problems, I had two sections done, pressed and trimmed but when I went to sew them together one of the pieces has completely disappeared. I’ve looked on the floor, under everything but I’ve had no luck so I may have to do that piece over as well.

I made it out to the yard today. I raked up a few leaves but they are pretty wet underneath; I’ve put them in piles but they need to dry out a bit before I bag them. I cleaned out a few pots at the back before stopping for the day; hopefully a short day in the yard will mean less aching tonight.

Now back to my search.

Friday, March 12, 2021

I was working on cards today; I have five cards due in April. My thought was that I’d get most of the tops done today, the remainder tomorrow and perhaps even get the quilting on them finished that day. I had all my patterns picked out so it shouldn’t have been too much to hope for.

The first card though took me all day. The pattern was a pixelation and called for a lot of one-inch squares. I’ve done some pixelated wall hangings and decided that rather than use all those squares and sew them together I’d cut strips where squares of the same colour joined together. There were a few half-square triangles involved too, all trimmed to one inch.

It was the math that did me in. I couldn’t figure out how long the strips were supposed to be. My rows were often too long or too short and sometimes it wasn’t as easy as just adding or trimming a piece at either end (due to the half-square triangles). Another problem was the block is to be six and-a-half inches but the pattern showed it as seven inches.

It has taken me all day to complete this one top. I haven’t looked at the patterns involved in the other cards but I’m hoping they are simpler. If not, I’ll be at this for days and days.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

We had a good two days on Texada – I think we both needed a change of scenery. I managed to get two of the three quilts I took over sandwiched. It was my choice not to do the third one. I finished the book I was reading, started and then finished another one. I also started on lesson two of a new needlework technique I’ve been attempting to learn.

It is such a beautiful day out today. I went out to purchase a gift card for an upcoming birthday and wearing a sweater was almost too much. The bees be damned, I’m going to get out in the yard if we have more of these nice days. The irises are coming up, the daisies are greening up at the bottom and the weeds (I know) are just waiting for the top layer of fallen leaves to come off before they start to pop. I brought my rubber boots back from Texada so I’m ready.

If it hadn’t been so much work to find the cushions I’d have stayed outside on the deck for awhile after I got home.

I had a lovely surprise arrive in the mail today from Kathryn. She had seen a comment I made about a mini-iron on Facebook and send me one. I’ll do a bit of rearranging of my piecing area but I know I’ll get a lot of use from it.

I’m lucky that we are healthy and that we have somewhere equally enjoyable to escape to when we feel the need.

Monday, March 8, 2021

It was a fun few days quilting (virtually) with Stacia and Deloise. Our monthly miniature went together very quickly.

Our theme was donation quilts and I had a pattern and a start on one. I wasn’t very far into the second day when I realized the quilt I was making was one I would probably rather keep for myself so I needed something else. Deloise mentioned a pattern that she has used before and it was one that both Stacia and Deloise were making so I joined in with them.

I have a bin of flannel and I had enough fabric to make mine all from various flannels – mostly novelty prints. I still need to stitch down the binding and once that is done I’ll post a photo. You won’t be surprised to know that Stacia finished five quilts and Deloise finished two quilts and has another top done.

Apparently Covid vaccination has started in Powell River and I think we’ll get our first shot earlier than we expected. I was due for my second Shingles vaccine at the end of the month and I was concerned that having the two vaccines too close together might mess things up. The pharmacist suggested I come in and get the second Shingles shot and I’d be good when my turn comes up on the Covid list. I was able to get in right away and so far I’m not feeling any affects from it.

I’m trying to get my sewing room put back into some sort of order. I had all sorts of flannel pulled that didn’t work out for the quilt and I had several pieces pulled that I thought I might be able to use as backings. I had to shift a lot of things around to get to my flannel bin and to clear off my quilting machine. I’d be smarter to put everything back when I’m finished with it; I try and try but sometimes it just doesn’t work!

We are heading across to Texada tomorrow for a couple of days. I have a few quilts that I want to sandwich and I have more floor space over there than I do here. One of the projects I need to get quilting on is the Guild’s mystery. Since I am leading it I feel obligated to have mine finished by the June wind-up meeting where we do the reveal.

I have a Board meeting tonight. Some meetings I’m able to turn my camera off and carry on with something else but I’ll have to pay attention to this one. Another reason to get things tidy in here.