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.

Friday, March 5, 2021

I spent a lovely day with Stacia and Deloise and there will be two more days of it. First up was the March miniature from our postcard collection. I’ll post pictures soon.

And what a treat to look out the window while I’m sitting at the table to see this basket full of purple. You can see that the crocuses are bigger than the weeds now.

And if I’m at my chair in the living room this is what I see. Still lots more to come out.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

I finally got the first block for my postage stamp quilt finished. This was a sample to see if the design I worked out on paper translated to something I wanted to make. I quite like it in spite of how much time it took.

There are 32 coloured four-patch blocks which translates to 128 one-and-a-half-inch squares. I’m trying not to repeat a fabric within those 128 squares so it will take some sorting out as I put the pieces together. No guarantees there won’t be repeats though.

The centre is made up of a pinwheel and an addition 8 two-patch squares. I’m not concerning myself as much with the fabric on those two-patches but I’m going to try to have the pinwheels similar in some way. This particular block has the same background fabric but I know there will be lots where the background and the wing of the pinwheel are the same.

This will be my leader and ender project for the while (long long while).