Friday, May 18, 2018

I’ve had a couple of busy sewing days. I worked hard yesterday morning to get a card ready for the mail – quilting done and hand sewing as well. After dropping the card into the mail after lunch I headed out for my afternoon sewing session. Progress on the bag is slow, but the zipper is in so I’m breathing a sigh of relief. I had hoped at one point I would have it done for my trip to Vancouver but with only one week before that happens there is no chance. I barely was home in time for supper and then headed out the door to a Guild demo night.

We stitched about seven quilt tops together last evening – some of the blocks we were working with were a bit “off” and finding 20 blocks that went together was a bit of a challenge. I stayed as far away from the decision-making as possible and stitched together a quilt top. We were back at it first thing this morning and I put together another top and helped sandwich a few quilts. All totalled we managed a dozen quilts which are ready for quilting, binding and presentation to whoever needs them. Community quilts are where we spend the bulk of the money the Guild earns from the quilt show and raffle. Everyone who participated today got a door prize – a sandwich to take home to quilt and bind.

I left before all the work was done. I wanted to get the boulevard mowed and our own grass needed another trimming. I keep getting out the weed whacker for the edges but I don’t think I’m getting any better at it. While I was out and had my gardening clothes on I picked a bucket of weeds and did some watering. There is nothing but hot dry weather in the forecast and a few of the plants in planters were looking a bit limp – the lavender and the lilac in particular.

I’ve got two more cards ready for binding tonight.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

At every Guild business meeting this year we’ve been bringing home a small bag of cut-up scraps. We are to make a 12.5″ block from the fabric in the bag and, at the end of the Guild season, we’ll put the blocks together for Community Quilts.

I’ve kept up quite well but I got behind in April. At the May Guild meeting we were encouraged to take extra bags because they needed 20 for each quilt top, and I also think the Program Committee didn’t want any bags of scraps left over.

Tomorrow night (and Friday) we will be putting the blocks together. When they were counting up the blocks on Tuesday they said they needed more; I told them I had four blocks at home that I’d finish by our meeting Thursday.

So that’s what I did all day – four blocks done and one Splendid Sampler block as well. It is hard to find a traditional block or even a pattern that will match the various pieces in our bags. Most of my inspiration comes from my Quilter’s Block a Day Calendar. I cut as many pieces to size as possible and then fill in the rest with whatever I have left.

I thought I had hit the jackpot on one of the blocks when I was able to cut all the pieces to match the pattern – sadly the block I cut for was only nine inches. Can you tell which one has an add-on border?

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

I had a wonderful weekend at the studio. I skipped stitching on Thursday afternoon and headed to The Rock on the mid-morning ferry. Even though it was a bit breezy I sat outside during the ferry trip. I decided that if I was suffering from allergies the sea air would do me good; if I had something else I thought the sea air might kill me and then I’d know it wasn’t allergies! We have a lot of trees around the studio but none of them are flowering and I felt better by the first afternoon.

We did a couple of walks, I sat outside on the deck and did nothing, I read, I did a bit of cross stitching – all relaxing activities. We walked down to the lake just across from us in hopes of seeing some turtles sunning themselves but there were kids playing in the water and the best we could do was a sighting of some tadpoles and a snake. We went out for dinner one night (we usually do when I’m over there) and we went to Shelter Point for dinner on Mother’s Day; it was opening day for the concession and they had a crowd.

We both came back over on Monday because Pat had to renew the insurance on his truck but after taking care of that and a bit of shopping he was back out on the noon ferry. I spent some time upstairs and finished my chenille quilt; it needed to be squared up and have the binding attached. I sat out on the deck last evening and did the hand stitching before getting it into the washer and drier for a finish today at the bee. I’m pleased with how it turned out; I’m not sure what I’ll do with it now that it is done though.

Today I was back at the bee and working on card tops, as well as blocks from The Splendid Sampler. I have a few cards that I need for this month so as I do a top for a card I do one block for my sampler. Since I was in a hurry, and all the original blocks I have left are complicated, I’m doing these tops for the second (and third) time. I’ll continue working on them tonight.

I’m still not sure if I have allergies or an odd cold; since being home my eyes are watering and my throat is a bit sore but I don’t have that horrible cough that I had last week. No matter what it is I hope it goes away soon; Christy gave me some natural allergy relief products and I’m using (and enjoying) them. I was well taken care of in the smelly department for Mother’s Day – essential oils, lotions and bath bombs!

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

I hadn’t planned on spending the day at my desk but that seems to be how it has worked out. I came upstairs last night and sorted out a pattern for one of the Guild blocks I need to make; I wanted to be able to get right at the stitching this morning.

I didn’t have a very good night last night – cutting the grass has set me back on trying to fight these allergies. I slept later than usual and even went back to bed for a half-hour after I had my first cup of tea. With an allergy pill and two more cups of tea I’m feeling better but starting to cough again.

I’d like to avoid being outside for a day or two but that doesn’t seem to work out for me. I went out this morning to the garbage and recycle and came back in through the breeze blowing off the lilac tree – lovely in theory but my eyes started to water right away. I think I am so bad this year because of the later spring and everything is blossoming at the same time – the lilacs, the laburnum, apple and cherry trees still out, rhododendrons and pretty much anything else that blooms in the spring. Too say nothing of the dandelions. We’re told not to pull them but I pulled a bag at the Hall one day while I was waiting for someone and it wasn’t appreciated by one of the Board members who is a bee keeper. But there is a limit (not a judgement, a limit)!

I have to make a trip to the Hall in a bit to collect money from a renter – all part of my new responsibilities. I managed to get the minutes of the last meeting sent out and I’ve replied to all the rental requests we’ve had so I think I’m caught up for awhile.

I’m planning to go to Texada tomorrow. I was going to go after stitching but I think I’m going to skip stitching and go a bit earlier. I’m hopeful the air I breathe over there won’t bother me as much as it does here. If it does I may have to reconsider the allergy diagnosis.

I don’t feel a lot like sewing with what is left of the day so I’ll cross-stitch or crochet when I’m back home and packed for tomorrow’s trip.