Saturday, December 9, 2017

I’ve been at it all day and I have almost all of my packages wrapped and ready for the mail. I’ve completely run out of energy though so I’m calling it quits. I will have time tomorrow to finish up the wrapping so I can be at the post office first thing on Monday. I’ll have quite a collection of parcels so I made need to take two or three trips from my car to the post office. I heard today that Monday is the last day for mailing parcels at “regular” rates – whatever that means – so I expect there will be line-ups.

Many years, when I’m this far along with wrapping, I break out a bottle of something festive. I think it is a sign of my age because I think rather than a festive drink I’m going to go have a nap!

Friday, December 8, 2017

It has taken me all day but I finally have everything I need to start wrapping gifts for the mail. All the shopping is done – online, in Saskatoon, and locally. All the stitching is done – at home, in airports, and on Texada. I feel like I’m really late getting this done and, as I do every year, I vow to start earlier next year.

It was a real treat to be at home all day – it doesn’t happen very often. We’ve spent some time looking at the calendar and trying to decide when we can get over to the studio again. Surprisingly enough it is Pat who has more on the schedule next week than I do.

The last time I left the studio I mentioned to Pat that I would like my sewing/crafting space in Powell River to be as tidy as the room I have on Texada. That will take a lot of work but I’m determined to try to make it happen – starting with putting away all the scraps and miscellany from my Christmas sewing. My new desk is the only space that I’m able to keep clear on a consistent basis!

Thursday, December 7, 2017

It took all morning to finish my Guild work for the meeting tonight. Our website is a freebie and therefore comes with size restrictions. Although we aren’t entirely out of space I decided (for some strange reason) that today would be a good day to archive some of the pages and photos. I’m not sure what I’ll do with them now that they are off the site but I’m thinking maybe some sort of binder with the “old” stuff. I’ll check with the person who does the Archives, although she doesn’t really do anything with her photos either. It will involve lots of work but perhaps I can do a little each week/month when I’m on the site anyway.

After lunch I went out to run a few errands; dropping some Cranberry Hall membership cards off and making a bank deposit. I did a bit of Christmas shopping and I think I’m done, unless I’ve forgotten someone or something. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not DONE DONE as I still have a bit of sewing and stitching to finish up. I’m hoping to get a few packages ready for the mail tomorrow though and have everything ready by the end of the weekend. No Texada trip for me this week.

I’m going back to my sewing until it is time for supper.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Although I wasn’t able to find the patterns I was looking for last night, I think we all knew I wasn’t just going to pitch the cross stitch pieces (partly because Mum stitched them and partly because I’m too cheap to waste an almost-done project). The back stitching might not be exactly as it should be but I think it is adequate enough to highlight the pattern. There is one more to do and I’ll get to it soon.

I started my morning by working on reports for our Cranberry Hall board meeting tonight. I had kept up with things quite well during the month so there wasn’t too much to do. I didn’t have anything on the “Action Required” list; I usually forget about any of my action items until the day before the meeting and then I scramble to get whatever they are finished so I can report on some progress. After the paperwork was done I started back into my Christmas sewing. I have only a few items left on my list but I really want to get everything done and in the mail by early next week. I was working on a new pattern this morning and I’ve just finished it now. Hopefully the repeats I am making will go a bit quicker.

This afternoon I signed up for a class on how to make drier balls; the local wool shop was offering the class for free if you purchased the yarn. I needed to have 100% wool, which I had at home, but since they didn’t release the supply list I couldn’t take any of my own. They are quite easy to do and, in addition to my wool for the balls, I also purchased some red and blue roving (to spice them up a bit) and some felting needles. I’ve always been interested in needle felting so I think these supplies will work for more drier balls as well as other projects. I threw the one ball that I made into the washing machine with a load of laundry when I got home; the hot water is meant to felt it. It is ready to go into the drier now so I’ll soon see how it turns out.

I’m going back to my stitching before heading off to the meeting.