Wednesday, January 22, 2020

I thought I had another week before our next Cranberry Hall Board meeting but when I looked at the calendar I realized it is coming up on Monday. Since we are heading out of town tomorrow morning I had to get the Agenda out today. And since I was immersed in Hall work I went ahead and got as many of my reports ready as possible. There will be a bit of work left on Monday morning but I’m well prepared.

I have a deadline coming up for the Guild on Monday and I realized I needed some information from one of our members. Although I can’t get the actual form until Monday I’m assuming that it won’t change much from the form I submitted for Quilt Canada 2018. It took a bit of looking but I think I have everything I need for when the submissions open.

I had time this afternoon to get that last quilt block quilted. I was hoping to have another row of my quilt-as-you-go project ready to hand stitch tonight. When I compared the blocks I had quilted with the photo I had taken with the layout I realized one of the blocks wasn’t for row two. I went ahead and connected the other three blocks so I’ll have a bit of hand stitching tonight.

What I should be doing is getting ready for our trip to Christy’s tomorrow. I’ve made a pile of the electronics I want to take (Kindle, iPad, charger cords) and I have a pile of stitching to take (curtains, blankie repair kit, and some cross stitching for the evenings). I guess I better get a few clothes and my current book stuff into a suitcase so I’ll be ready to go first thing in the morning.

January 21, 2020

I was back at the bee today and I got lots done. No actual finishes mind you but I was happy with what I did accomplish.

But first I headed out to the Post Office. I hadn’t been for awhile and the last time I was there the line-ups were still quite long. But today I was first in the door and had my package weighed, paid for and all the paperwork filled out before anyone else came in. That made me a bit too early for the bee and, since I hadn’t had any breakfast, I thought I’d go through one of the drive-throughs and pick something up. Instead I went to the grocery store and bought some muffins to share with the quilters. I managed to bring a couple home with me at the end of the day.

I was working on two card tops today from the Splendid Sampler 2 book. I don’t know why I hadn’t found these particular patterns earlier as I know I’ve looked for easy pieced patterns before when I needed to save some time. I had two card tops finished before lunch; it made me wish I had brought some batting and backing with me.

But I had four more blocks for my quilt as you go project. I got three of them done and a start on the fourth before I ran out of bobbin thread. I figured that was a sign so I packed up and did my usual errands – the Hall and the bank.

If I had managed to get that fourth block quilted I might have been tempted to get them ready for hand stitching tonight but, since I didn’t, I’ll be content to get back to my knitting.

Monday, January 20, 2020

I had such a good time sewing all weekend long. And I ended up with a couple of finishes and good progress on my UFO Challenge for the month.

Since it was a “retreat” I thought I was justified in starting something new. When I looked at the list of projects I wanted to get a start on it was my Guild Challenge that came to the top of the list. I think I bought the pattern at the Saskatoon Quilt Show this fall. The blocks went together very quickly but the appliqué work took more than a day. It still needs to be quilted before the June deadline.

I finished the February Block of the Month for the Guild – it had been started at the last bee I attended but I still had one corner to finish. It required some stitching around the appliqué and getting it done was a good warm-up to the Challenge.

Even finishing all of the above, I still had a day left so I worked on my January UFO Challenge – my Quilt As You Go project. I had two blocks quilted so I when I finished two more blocks I put them together. This is a new technique for me where you quilt each block separately and stitch them together after they are quilted. For this project I’ve decided to use the method without a sashing between the blocks. The more common way is to have sashing between; I have another project started that will use the same quilt as you go method but it will have sashing.

And to top all of that off, I finished a book, went to a movie, and finished a scarf!

So after all that fun, is it any surprise that I’ve spent all day at my computer catching up. I still have a few more bills to take care of and then I’ll get packed up for tomorrow’s bee.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

It is a sunny day out today but the streets are still slushy and we officially cancelled our retreat. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to have my own little at-home retreat. From now until Sunday evening I’m going to be upstairs sewing.

I had purchased ingredients for the Frozen Pineapple Dessert I intended to make for the retreat. The cream I purchased needed to be used so I went ahead and made it this morning. I followed Mum’s recipe but I forgot that sometimes you have to add your own interpretation. I added the butter, icing sugar, eggs and vanilla into my mixing bowl as the recipe said. However, I should have creamed the butter and sugar together first; I mixed it for ages but still had little clumps of butter floating in the mix. Even Mrs. McCallum taught me better. I carried on and the pan is in the freezer; Pat and I will see how it is after supper tonight. I’ve added a sticky-note reminder to myself in case I make it again.

I finished the Princess last night; it took a lot of courage but I washed it this morning and have it drying now. I was so afraid the floss colours would run, even though I used a colour catcher in the sink. I don’t think I’ve done it any damage. Pat thinks I should send it by courier; I’m afraid it will go missing in transit no matter how I send it.

Now is about the time I’d be leaving for Gail’s so I’m going to get my project out and get sewing!