Wednesday, November 29, 2023

I was busy sewing binding on a couple of cards this morning when it dawned on me that I should double check my card list. When I did I realized I had missed some very important people.

That led me down the rabbit hole to find another pattern to use for a few more cards. I’ve found one I really like and I’m hoping I can figure out how to do it without having to purchase the pattern. I’ve come a long way in my quilting journey to even think I could do that.

My last 12-Days package went in the mail this afternoon; the post office is getting busy. Every time I congratulate myself on how well I am doing getting gifts organized I run into another snag. I think I have the solutions I need though and I’ll be out shopping again tomorrow.

I’ve had a lovely afternoon of hand stitching and I’m going to return to it now.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

I took another look at my Christmas card list and realized I didn’t need as many more cards as I thought. I got started on the pattern that I took to Texada; I’m glad I decided to do a prototype rather than start a production line. I’ve made the card before but I don’t remember it being as fiddly as this one turned out to be. My choice of fabric wasn’t great and the prototype ended up in the bin.

Not to be discouraged though I found another way to get a very similar-looking design but in a much easier way. I have the tops done, except for a bit of hand stitching. I’ll get them finished and bound tomorrow.

My other idea for a line of cards was thwarted by the lack of shopping in Powell River. I wanted some felt; my only choice was Walmart and they don’t carry the felt squares I wanted (as I write that I’m thinking I should have also checked the dollar store). I have some felt that I use for my chickens but I don’t have much of it. If I can’t get any more I’ll take another look and see if I can spare a sheet or two so I can carry on with my plan.

My second 12-Days box went into the mail today – both say they will arrive by December 1st. Pat took care of a couple of online orders for me so I’m better prepared than I have ever been. I may even have time to clean up my sewing room before Christmas.

The Canucks are playing a game tonight so I’m off to find some hand stitching to keep me occupied while the game is on.

Monday, November 27, 2023

I only lasted a day and a half at the Guild’s Community Quilts weekend. On the plus side though, except for borders, I finished the project I took to work on. It was a totally scrappy pattern and, to be honest, it would have been nicer if the fabrics hadn’t been quite so ugly or so similar. The fabrics were all donated to the Guild, some many years ago, and I was trying to use them up.

The Guild weren’t sandwiching quilts this time but I brought four of my donation quilts to leave for the next time they sandwich. I had another one that will be a donation but, at the last minute, I decided it was too small and I needed to add borders. I brought home a sandwich to quilt and when I got it home I remembered I already had one to quilt. I’ll get to them eventually and no one seems to be keeping track of where the quilts are or how long they have been out.

I wanted to get so much done today but I really haven’t accomplished much. I finished wrapping the last of the 12-Days packages and got one off in the mail this afternoon. I’ve sorted through the box of Guild fabric and picked out almost enough different strips to make another quilt top. There are still lots of strips in the box but I’ll find another pattern that will work with them.

I would have liked to have some cards to hand stitch tonight but I didn’t get that far. I think I still have time to mark some fabric circles and I can cut them out while I relax tonight. I’m making good progress on my crocheted tablecloth but I feel like I should be working on something that actually needs to get done.

Speaking of which, I did laundry today so I’d better put some clothes away and make the bed.

Friday, November 24, 2023

I can still get around in my sewing space but just barely. And I can get into the room across the hall but, again, barely.

My cutting table is littered with Christmas fabric. A lot of it has been sitting there since I cleared out my Christmas bin; I’m gradually using it for my cards. I still have another set of cards to make so I’m glad I didn’t get carried away and put everything back in the bin.

I have Christmas wrapping paper all over the floor in both rooms. This morning I wrapped up all but the last package for 12-Days. I was waiting for one more parcel to arrive and it came just after lunch today. I guess it is a good thing I didn’t put the paper away.

I also have mailing boxes all over both rooms. Some of them have been cut down and I have three set aside with the 12-Day packages. I thought (for a minute) I might break down the rest of the boxes because it is recycle day next week. I’m glad I didn’t move ahead with that plan as I remembered I still have several boxes of dishes and ornaments to send along to Elizabeth.

As if I didn’t already have enough of a mess I dug out a box of 2.5″ strips that came home with me when I took over the Program Committee at the Guild. I thought I had returned everything to the Guild after my diagnosis but I found this box hidden away. It is full of scraps, some width of fabric, some less, as well as some pre-cut squares. I’ll be using some of them in a quilt I’ll be working on over the weekend as the Guild gets together for our Community Quilt session. The ones I didn’t pick to use are loosely stuff back into the box they came from.

I got some of my cards bound yesterday at Gail’s but I still have three left. I also have some embroidery stitches to add to all of them. I wasn’t going to do that but Gail thinks it will look better if I do; it was only because it was more work that I decided not to do the extra step. Last night’s demo was fun and I learned how to do a proper blanket stitch. It is so much easier to learn from someone than it is to try to pick it up from youtube. It turns out to be another (small) project that isn’t finished!

I might continue with some hand stitching this afternoon or I may sit and read. Pat picked up a book at the library for me this morning and it is brand new so I only have it for a short time.

Whatever I decide to do it won’t be cleaning up this (glorious) mess!