Saturday, April 28, 2018

Today’s free-motion class was a lot of fun. I’m not sure that I learned any new techniques because I already knew that it involved practice practice practice!

The first question from the instructor was “Do you doodle?” I don’t, but she went on to explain that free-motion quilting is really all about doodling on our machines. I had a lot of fun with my own particular version of doodling – I can’t wait to try some of them on some real projects.

I was happy to have a chance to try some pebble work; my leaves were rather sad but I could get used to those curly stems. The designs inside the flower petals in the middle were fun and I even practiced my ABC’s. Some of the things I tried will never see the light of day again!

Friday, April 27, 2018

I started the morning with the baking I need to do for the Hall’s AGM on Sunday. At the Retreat weekend someone brought some brown sugar fudge; Deloise gave me a microwave version of Aunt Ethel’s Fudge so I decided I’d make a pan of that. It isn’t exactly a square but I didn’t see any reason it couldn’t be part of the sweet tray. I also had a new recipe I wanted to try – Lemon Bars. Once the fudge was made and cut I was able to reuse the pan for the Lemon Bars. I tried one after they had cooled; they were tasty but a bit sticky to be served as finger food. I put them in the fridge and I’ll see if they get any better. If they don’t I might make something else, or I might buy something, or I might make some cookies.

The next thing I needed to get done was my quilt sandwich for my class tomorrow. I spray basted the baby quilt on the back step but I don’t have the right-coloured thread so I might just take some muslin blocks that are sandwiched. I have some that will need to be resprayed but I think they will be better for a class than the baby quilt.

I have always used my SUV for any away-from-home quilting – either straight-line or free motion. At the Retreat we needed to quilt the fabric we were using for our bags and I only had Pearl with me. I was able to attach my walking foot to Pearl and it worked like a charm. That got me wondering about whether or not I’d also be able to attach my free-motion foot. I spent some time this afternoon trying to find out if I could lower the feed dogs on Pearl and, although I haven’t done it before, I found out they can be lowered. That saves me some time as I won’t have to clean the SUV (which has been waiting for a cleaning all month).

Our trip to the Island yesterday was a lot of fun; the three of us get along well. The place where they have their sewing machines serviced is actually a beautiful quilt shop. I picked up a couple of pieces of fabric and a pattern (all at 50% off); I also found two books on techniques that I’ve never seen before. One is full of walking foot designs and the other is full of instructions about the different ways to Quilt As You Go. The quilt shop was very close to Michael’s so I was able to get all the floss I needed. We also made a stop at FabricLand but I didn’t see anything I needed to bring home (I think I was shopped out by then). We were back in Comox in plenty of time for the last ferry; it was a long day and I was tired when I got home.

I still have my report to write for the Hall’s AGM and I need to finish preparing some of the freebies we are giving out as door prizes to our members. Other than packing things up and picking up some cream, coffee and tea I think I have everything else done. Hopefully I will have time and energy to take care of than tomorrow after class.

Pat arrived home late this afternoon and we’ll go out for dinner since there is almost nothing but Lemon Bars and Brown Sugar Fudge in the fridge!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

I had a few things to do today so I got started right after breakfast; my back was already sore so I decided not to go out and work in the yard.

I made my vegetable drink for breakfast and then remembered I needed to wash the flannel for my quilt class on Saturday. It was upstairs so I came up and, on the way, picked up a note about a Hall rental. As I was adding the information to the Hall calendar I got sucked into some accounting and paying some bills. But the cheque book was downstairs.

When I went to get the cheque book out of my purse I realized the laundry was waiting for the flannel but I needed to make a phone call so I headed back upstairs to get the number and the flannel. When I got back downstairs with the flannel and the phone number I realized the flannel needed to have some stay stitching around the raw edges or I’d have a real mess when it came out of the washer. So the flannel went back on the stairs for my next trip up.

When I got back to the kitchen I noticed that I had neglected to clean up the mess from my juicing. I washed all the parts of the juicer and started some soup with the pulp. Once I made my phone call I came back upstairs to stay stitch the flannel and then another trip downstairs to get it in the laundry.

I also had to make a trip to City Hall (for Hall stuff), deliver a couple of cheques, and pick up a pattern from a friend. So I decided I should look at my list for baking (for the Hall) and pick up groceries while I was out. And when I delivered the cheques to the Hall renter I could check the tea supply for the event on Sunday.

Like the crazy woman I have become I also tried to get a card ready for the mail. My appointment with City Hall was at 11:30 and if I wanted my card to go out today (from the 7-Eleven mailbox) I had to have it there by noon. I ran out of time but I knew if the card was mailed at the Post Office by 3 PM it would still get out today. I had to interrupt the card for my meeting but I managed to get it ready before lunch, but in my hurry I forgot to take a photo.

In the middle of all this I got a call from the accountant regarding our Income Tax. There were pages to sign, there was her invoice to pay, and of course there was a big cheque due to Revenue Canada as well. The next time Pat and I are in the same place we have one more form to sign but the rest of it is done until next year.

After my errands, shopping and laundry I have a bit of time left before dinner. What should I do? Clean up my sewing room (I’m really not unpacked yet from the Retreat), spray baste a quilt or a couple of table runners, stitch a card, or give up and go knit.

I’m off to Nanaimo on the first ferry tomorrow morning and not home again until the last ferry. It will be a long day but I expect to have a good time.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

I had one main project I intended to work on at the Retreat – my Bloom quilt. At the end of the weekend all I had managed was one block! But I accomplished a lot of other things. I caught up on my 1880 Sampler blocks and made a couple of extras for card tops. I almost finished my baby quilt and, from the trimmings, ended up with blocks that will go together for my miniature meeting in May. I added the borders to Supernova and it is ready for quilting.

My Frozen quilt took up most of my time. Before leaving for the Retreat I reviewed my pattern – I was using a panel but they wanted me to cut off so much of it I decided to finish it my own way. It involved a lot of math but, once I had the last of the snowflakes appliquéd, I started on the borders. Some of the borders were wider than the pattern called for; some were turned the opposite way because I was using directional fabrics. I’m happy with the results and it too is on the quilting pile.

We always do a group project and this year’s was advertised as a Sunday morning Retreat Bag. It took me most of the day Sunday to complete it but, in the end, I’m happy with it and I have already loaded it up with travel “stuff”. It will get its first outing when I head to Quilt Canada at the end of May.

I was so tired when I got home yesterday I had a little nap which meant that none of my unpacking got done. And first thing this morning I headed out to my regular bee. I have the top of the baby quilt finished and I will have it sandwiched and ready for my free-motion quilting class on Saturday. I have to wash the flannel backing but I’ll get that done this afternoon.

Earlier in the day I thought I would work in my sewing room tonight. Since I feel like I could use another nap right now I’ll force myself to do a bit of unpacking before relaxing with my knitting tonight.