Friday, December 11, 2020

I’ve been making pinwheels for probably a year for a scrap quilt that I designed. It seemed like the two-and-a-half inch blocks would never been finished but I finally got the right number made last week. I had been trying to work at sewing the rows of pinwheels together while working on That Fairy Tale Quilt but I was finding keeping track of the order for the pinwheels was just too difficult. But today my calendar said it was time to work on something scrappy so I went back to the pinwheels with them as my only focus.

I had the two rows put together (48 pinwheels per row) but when I put them on my design wall (the floor) the rows were way too long. I had made twice as many pinwheels as I needed. So now I’m back to my sketch book trying to find a way to make a border to use up some of the extras. I have an idea of something but I’ll have to wait and see how it works out before I’m sure. I need to take a couple of seams apart but if there is anything I’m particularly good at when it comes to quilting it is my reverse stitching techniques.

Elizabeth sent Pat and I a Gingerbread Tree-making kit in our Christmas package. It wasn’t wrapped so we didn’t feel bad about putting it together this afternoon. I was originally in charge of the icing bag as Pat was building the tree but my wrist was hurting so Pat took over when it came time to decorate. At one point he had more icing on the counter than he did on the tree or in the bag and, of course, I was laughing so hard I wasn’t much help.

When I thought we were done Mr. Perfect told me we had to have two lights (small light-shaped candies) on each point. It may not be a work of art, but it certainly turned out better than the few times I’ve tried to make gingerbread houses with homemade gingerbread!

Thursday, December 10, 2020

I allowed myself to be totally self-indulgent today and I’ve had a marvellous time. This month I’m working on That Fairy Tale Quilt and today I made the Three Little Pigs and some mushrooms. I’m not sure where the mushrooms fit into the pig story but the ones I made look like magic mushrooms so anything is possible.

I’ve started working on the three houses now – straw, sticks and bricks. It took me a long time to get the first row finished (Little Red Riding Hood) and I wasn’t particularly liking the process but this row is so much fun. I have a Zoom meeting tonight so with the camera and audio off I can get a little more done.

I’m not having as much trouble with the templates today. To be clear though there has been a good share of reverse stitching along the way. One little piggy was almost sent to market!

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

I made one of my Splendid Sampler bonus blocks this morning. The book is finished but there are a number of seasonally-themed bonus blocks. I’m anxious to be able to say, truthfully, that the Splendid Sampler is done.

My thought was that I would play when the block was done but it was still mid-morning and that seemed too self-indulgent so I worked on a couple of dog pillows for the S.P.C.A. When I have scraps I set them aside to use as stuffing for a pillow (and for me any scrap I put in a pillow is less than 1.5″ square). I use pillowcases and, up until now, I’ve just stuffed them, sewn them together and donated them.

But I’ve seen some of the pillows other Guild members have made and mine are definitely less attractive. So I changed my method and put boxed corners on one end of the pillowcase. But the top of the pillow was still odd so I put boxed corners on that end as well. Without realizing it I managed to completely sew up the pillowcase without leaving any room to turn them right side out or stuff them.

I did a bit of reverse stitching and managed to get one done. The shape is better but I think I stuffed it too full. I have enough scraps already set aside for at least one more pillow so I’ll be able to do some more experimenting. In the meantime, I delivered two pillows to the S.P.C.A. this afternoon.

I finished a couple of knitting projects in the past few evenings. I had some very thick yarn that couldn’t be used in hats so I made some hanger covers. I took a photo of them but for some reason I can’t get it off my camera; I’d take another photo but they are already in the closet with clothes hanging on them.

Kathryn and I picked up some scrubby yarn on a trip to Michaels. I wanted to make a round scrubby but they are crocheted and I found it very difficult to see where the stitches should go so I switched to a knitted pattern. I had enough to make a couple of scrubby dishcloths as well as one small scrubby pad.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

I had an early start this morning and my task list for the day wasn’t large. I managed to get everything done but I certainly didn’t think it would take me all day.

I had a few things to do as a result of the Hall meeting last night. I’ve sprinkled those tasks out over the next few days. The jobs I did today were the simple ones but it involved contacting a couple of people and having them meet me on the back step to hand over some paperwork.

I worked on Clue 5 of the Guilds’s mystery quilt project. The clue won’t be released until February but this step took quite a long time to finish. I think I’ve been at it most of the month. There was a fair bit of reverse stitching involved over the course of putting it together but I’m pretty sure I have it right.

As I was reviewing the instructions for the clue I realized that the instructions for the next clue wasn’t ready. It doesn’t get mailed out until January but in my mind both Clue 4 and 5 were set. I’m not sure they are done yet but I need a few days (or weeks) before I go back and look at them.

Pat has a meeting tonight so I’ll read while he’s doing that and then I’m looking forward to some easy-peasy knitting.