Category Archives: Journal

A few things done today

Thursday, September 17, 2020

I planned two things for today in my sewing room.

I wanted to get the Mystery Quilt Deloise and I have been working on finished today. The designer is asking for photos by the first week of October; I decided that since I was added on as her first BC participant I should send her my photo. I’m not sure the border I added today actually improves it but it is what it is. Not an issue with the design but my choice of fabrics could have been better.

I also wanted to get a new bandana done for George. I bought some cute dog fabric that I wanted to use and then I heard that Taylor wanted a green one. I have two bandanas cut out; they don’t take long to sew and I hope to have them in the mail on Monday along with Taylor’s new blankie which I still haven’t quite finished.

Maize Basket (Block 132)

And since I hadn’t done one for a long time I decided to do today’s daily block.

I have a Zoom meeting tonight for 100+ Women Who Care so I’d better get my dinner.

It’s good to be home

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

It’s good to be home but I’ve had a much busier day than I had on any day at the studio. We came home on the early ferry so I’ve had most of the day at home, and most of that time has been spent at my desk.

I talked to the Guild’s Program Committee head first thing; I had passed along some online ideas we might try because the announcement came early this week that all meetings for the Guild were suspended until who-knows-when.

We chatted about some options and decided we would offer my Mystery Quilt earlier than planned. It was always meant to be done by sending clues out via e-mail but it wasn’t scheduled to start until the new year. We’ve decided to start it right away, with the first clue going out on October 1st. Since I am leading the charge I need to have my steps done ahead of everyone else. I organized the mailing list and set up the first two clues so they are ready to be sent. I purchased my fabric awhile ago so I started cutting it this afternoon. I want to take photos as I do each step; I hope I remember that part.

I had a book to pick up at the library and some cards to get in the mail so I went out after lunch. As I was leaving the library I remembered that I brought two books back from Texada that needed to be returned. I hadn’t unpacked that bin yet so they were forgotten. I’ll take them back tomorrow when I go out early for groceries; the library itself doesn’t need to be open for returns.

I also had to do some Hall work; we’ve decided to open for one group per day. Our “regulars” were slotted in already but we were able to fulfil two new requests. There are close to 30 Covid cases in the region so hopefully we won’t have to close up again. I’m glad I’m not on that Covid Committee.

I was very happy to be able to start my car when we got home. In the past if I’ve been away for more than a few day the battery has died. The last time that happened my mechanic sold me a gizmo that maintains the battery level. I was pleased that it worked and coming home won’t be such a worry now.

I’m going to continue to cut fabric this evening even though we now have a TV set up that I could watch. I’ve been away from the TV while the restoration was going on and then another week at the studio so I’ll try not to get sucked into it for a few more days.

It’s not all play

Sunday, September 13, 2020

I’ve been enjoying my time on Texada – sewing, reading, and knitting – but it hasn’t been all play time.

We have cut and stacked almost two cords of wood that came from the trees we recently had cut down on the property. A few of them looked not-all-that-stable and Pat was afraid they would come down in a storm. We had an arborist come by to look at them and he came back to take down a few of the ones that weren’t in good health. We can’t use the wood for at least a year.

Some of the logs were really big!

I think we have enough wood to get us through the winter but a bit of it still has to be split and stacked – work for another day.

Har-dang-it

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

I spent most of the morning working on Hall stuff for my meeting tonight. My thought was that now that since I had passed the Secretarial duties on to someone else I wouldn’t have much prep work to do; I guess that won’t happen until the next meeting. Last year I worked on and distributed a procedures manual for the new Board members; today I updated the information and printed out copies not only for the new Board members but also for the “old” ones. Some of the information had changed and it seemed easier to print out new copies for everyone rather than figure out which pages had changed. I’m not convinced anyone reads them but they can’t say I didn’t try.

We had another squirrel whale moment at lunch when we were talking to Kathryn. Two humpbacks were swimming down the Salish Sea and doing a lot of pectoral slaps as they moved through; it was quite something to see. We’ll finish our conversation with Kathryn another day!

A couple of weeks ago I finished my first Hardanger lesson. I purchased a series of five lessons when we were in Victoria for Christmas. I started the first lesson the last time I was on Texada but finished it at home. When it was done I pressed it and attached it to the back of my door so I could admire it when I came into and left my sewing room.

The other day when I was cleaning up I took a break and stopped to admire my work because on this trip to Texada I’ll be starting lesson two. Much to my chagrin I noticed something asymmetrical about the piece. It was then I realized I had only done some of the cross stitching in the margin and not all of it.

Lesson One (No cutting involved)

I pulled it off the door today to pack in my bin but decided since it was a small amount I would get it done. Fortunately it was cross stitch and not any of the other “fancy” stitches or I might not have finished.