Saturday, November 18, 2017
I’ve made a list of everything that needs to be done before I leave for Saskatoon. As you can see it isn’t a short list. I was happy to be able to cross one thing off that list today and, with any luck, I’ll cross another one off tonight.
Friday, November 17, 2017
My new desk fits in perfectly – in fact I think I have more space than I did before; mind you not all of my “stuff” has been put back yet. I worked on the Cranberry Hall minutes yesterday afternoon and I had space for all the paper without it covering the keyboard or having to sort it out on the floor! I scored a new chair too – it’s on wheels so I can easily whip around to the filing cabinet. I think while everything is out I may try getting rid of a bunch of stuff (mostly yarn) that I never use. I’d love to pass it to Emma but the mailing costs are so high I’d be better off letting her buy new. If I can’t find anyone in the Facebook groups that want it I’ll donate it to one of the thrift stores.
I’ve had another lovely day of sewing – on my own this time! I’m almost ready to do the hand stitching on some Christmas projects. I’ve had my Christmas music playing as I work and I’m enjoying myself.
Pat took the ferry across to the studio this afternoon. I plan to live in my PJs for the better part of the next couple of days – I have someone coming to the house on Sunday so I’m going to have to get dressed at some point!
Back to work!
Thursday, November 16, 2017
For almost a full week I’ve been sewing either in groups of friends or with at least one friend. I’m amazed that I’m not tired of it by now. It is a Guild demo night and for the past couple of years the demos have been “hands-on”. We’re making pillow cases tonight. I’ve made them before so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to keep up with the group. At the last demo I didn’t do so well; by the time I arrived at the hall some folks were already half-finished. I’ll get there early and hopefully have a finish by the time I come home – there are no zippers involved tonight so I stand a chance!
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Today was the big day for trying out the long-arm machine at my friend Gail’s. I spent most of the morning getting ready for our date. I still had two borders to stitch on the practice quilt and then I needed to piece the backing and cut the batting. That part of the prep is no quicker than if I were to quilt on my domestic machine but the bonus with the long arm is that nothing needs to be sandwiched. I had enough time before leaving to get everything cut for our demo tomorrow night.
It took a long time to get everything set up on the long-arm frame. Gail did most of the work and I just rolled and pulled when I was told to. She also wound the bobbin and threaded the machine. Once I got going though she left me to “do my thing”; I find that “my thing” looks a lot like my very first free-motion quilting attempt. Because this was just a practice I tried a few different motifs as I quilted my way down the quilt – there are some attempt at spirals, leaves, flower and my more comfortable meanders and loops. None if it is any where near good enough but I know it will just take more practice.
It was certainly a quick way to get a project quilted. I was at Gail’s shortly after noon and I was finished before three. I think one big difference from the domestic-machine quilting was that I was encouraged to go slower whereas I try to increase my speed on Ruby. Also on Ruby my loops are quite small but with the long-arm they are much larger; in fact it is difficult (at least for me) to make small loops. Gail seemed okay with the job I did and, now that I’m home, each time I look at it I’m a little less critical. I won’t be bragging to anyone about my success but I’ll be brave and add a couple of photos. As with domestic-machine quilting I will still need to add binding but there’s no hurry for that.
All in all I enjoyed the experience. I’ll do at least one more practice quilt before I feel confident enough to do something “real”. Gail suggested I try some placemats; apparently you can put a whole bunch of placemats on the backing and then quilt from one to the other without stopping. That might be a good way to get better at certain motifs and placemats can always be used at home where no one sees them.
My evening will be spent cleaning out my sewing room. We are getting a corner desk (a freebie from a friend) and we’ll pick it up tomorrow afternoon. I have to make room for it which means I not only have to clean up, but I also need to rearrange.
Wish me luck!