Friday, June 9, 2017

After two weeks of yard work I decided I needed a reward. Since my work is free, I guess my reward should also be a freebie. I’m not complaining about this one! I wish you could smell them.

All the peonies in the yard are either in bud or full blossom so I decided to bring some indoors. They smell so nice and remind me of the bouquets of peonies Mum used to pick from the flower bed in the front out by the caraganas.

Although I’m not being paid I also rewarded myself with a folding table that I can use outside to spray baste my quilts. At the rates the gardener at the Hall is charging I’ve more than earned the money for it. Plus, I’m making use of our new Costco card!

Until the table arrives though I’m going to attempt to sandwich on the kitchen island.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

It’s been raining all day today – wouldn’t you know it would pour rain on a non-gardening day. No doubt the sun will be out tomorrow and I’ll be back to weeding.

I did a bit more paperwork after I got home from the board meeting last night; naturally there is more work for me to do but what didn’t get done last night had to wait. Today was all about getting to some sewing.

I started the day by doing a bit of scrap management. I keep a bowl of scraps on my cutting table and when I have a few minutes I cut a few into strips or squares. I didn’t get to the bottom of the bowl but my back was getting tired of standing so I moved along. I got the final borders attached to the Guild’s Block of the Month from a year ago. I didn’t like the piece much without the borders and I don’t think the borders have made me like it any better. I have been perfecting my mitred corners and I must say I did very well on this one.

After lunch I picked out and cut the fabric for the next Splendid Sampler block; I seem to be able to manage one block a week. I’m saving the sewing on it until the weekend – I think it will be a quick job.

What I really wanted to do was some quilting. I pulled out a top that I’ve had finished for ages but the backing I planned wasn’t big enough; the alternate backing I had stored with the project was also too small. I found some fabric in my stash that is large enough but I’m not convinced I like it. I may look around again or I may just go out and buy more; I wanted to use flannel but I don’t have much of that in my stash.

So what I decided to do was get a different piece sandwiched (yes, I have a few waiting in line) and start quilting it. When I pulled it out of the bin I realized that the final border hadn’t been attached on it. The borders are in place now so it is more or less ready to go. I say less because the backing I picked for the piece was the perfect size before I added the border but now I think it will be too small. I’m not fond of pieced backing but maybe I can make something work. I’m going to try some machine Sashiko on the quilt; I’ve had the book on loan from the Guild library for months and, as librarian, I probably should be setting a better example.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

No, I’m not giving up on my yard work – but I would in a heartbeat if someone else would do it for the same mooney as I get!

No, not my stitching – I’ll never give up on my stitching; I’ll never get it all done either!

I’m giving up on ever getting anything but work done on a Wednesday. There is another Cranberry Hall board meeting tonight which means I have reports that need to be done. Our meetings are usually on a Wednesday, although we don’t always have as many as we’ve had this past month. I’m going to shift my paperwork day to Wednesday. If the Guild reports are a day out of date it won’t make a bit of difference. My own paperwork has stacked up for two weeks because I’ve been working on other reports for other meetings and there is no way, after spending all afternoon on computer work today, that I’m going to follow my usual schedule and do paperwork again tomorrow.

For what is left of the afternoon (before supper and before the meeting) I’ll try to catch up on my own stack of papers.

But tomorrow? I’m clear for sewing!

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

I had a much better day today – not a big surprise as it was a sewing day. We were sewing in our new meeting place for the first time so there were a few kinks to work out. I think by the end of the day everyone was happy with how it worked out. I was pleased that the space is as bright as it is; we had such natural sunlight at the Seniors’ Centre that I thought we might feel like we were in a dull basement (we are, in fact, in the basement). But the sun was streaming in, the lighting is fine and we’ll be very happy there I’m sure.

I managed to get three cards almost completed. I’ve been using my precision piecing tips for my sewing. It takes a bit longer by the time you glue and press the seam lines, stitch, finger press, press, starch and press again and, naturally, not all my seams are precise. I was amazed that almost all my piecing was done by lunch. I didn’t really have the right threads to do the quilting (because, seriously, I never thought I’d get that far) but I managed with what I had. Just a few ends to tie in and the bindings to put on and they will be done.

Pat is out to a scotch-tasting party tonight and I’m the designated driver. I was ready for bed by 8:30 last night but I’ll probably have to stay up a bit later tonight!