Monday, April 24, 2017

I went to bed early last night and had a good sleep so I was ready to start fresh today. I haven’t accomplished a lot but I often don’t on a Monday.

I generally start my Monday by planning my week. One of the bloggers I follow had a chart for keeping track of various things that I should be doing on a regular basis but don’t seem to get at. I made a few adjustments to that chart today and printed off a few goals for the week ahead. One of those goals is some scrap management and I outdid myself in that category today. When I was getting ready for the retreat I emptied a couple of bins of scraps into bags and took them with me. This morning I sorted all those scraps into manageable bits – some were cut down into strips and squares, some were put into individual bags based on their colour. I have a basin for scraps sitting on my cutting table (the basin I bought at the garage sale a few weeks ago); as I’m cutting during the week the scraps go in there and I usually deal with them on Mondays. Even my basin has been cleared out so I can check off that goal for the week.

I created a couple of other categories that, at least for this month, are linked. I have a category for cards where I add the cards I need to do, as well as a Tuesday project category that I pretty much fill with cards. I have the patterns and fabrics picked for two cards, as well as a plan for three more. I cut the extra borders I need for for the quilt I worked on at the retreat and that will be the first thing I do tomorrow at the bee.

My Work-In-Progress category could stretch to pages, but I’m only adding one thing at a time to it. I hope this will help me focus on finishing something during my sewing time at home. I’m currently working on a rather new project that is a gift for someone so I can’t spill the beans just yet.

Now, back to it!

Sunday, April 23, 2017

I had a wonderful time at the Retreat, but I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep well on Friday night, although the accommodations were fine and I even had my own little room in a cabin that slept 10 but we only put five into. At 2 AM I was still awake so wandered outside to the porta-potty (no bathroom inside the cabin) but that didn’t help; at 3 AM I put on an extra sweater thinking maybe I was cold (although I didn’t feel cold). I was awake again at 6 AM but stayed in bed as I knew the coffee wouldn’t be ready until seven. Last night I slept much better and tonight I may fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.

Last retreat I was heads-down busy with Christmas cards and didn’t participate in the Friday Night Project, which usually takes me Friday night and at least a part of Saturday morning to finish. Not only did I participate this year but I finished it on Friday night.

I finished off four cards (which I can’t show you yet), but only two Leader and Ender blocks.

One of the UFO’s I took was this Block of the Month from last year at the Guild. I made good progress but I’m not sure how much I like it. There are still some borders to add and, I must admit, seeing it in a photograph looks better to me than when I lay it out. Definitely not my colours. Are they yours?

NOTE TO SELF: Next year don’t pack so darned much stuff.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

For the first time in what seems a long time I was able to get caught up on all my paperwork. My new office area and system worked well, except for the times when I popped up out of my chair to go to my filing cabinet that now sits right beside me. Although I don’t have any extra room for sorting papers on my desktop, the cutting table is within arm’s reach so I can sift through the piles as I need them.

I did a bit more shopping today. Before heading “up the lake” I wanted to get a set of jumper cables for the car. The car has been running fine, but I’ll be too far away for help should anything happen at the retreat. I also picked up a flashlight to keep in the car – the set of jumper cables I was going to buy had an LED light included with them but when Pat looked at the reviews that particular design was more expensive and had quite poor reviews. The set I purchased had good reviews, were cheaper, and came in their own little storage bag. Fingers crossed that I won’t have to use them (but I have the instructions on my iPad should the need arise).

Two films in the space of a day (one last night and one this afternoon) makes me think we’re back in film festival season. Last night’s movie was a one-time event and since I have a Guild demo tonight we had to go to the Cinematheque movie this afternoon.

I have a few more sewing things to pack up and then I’d better pack some clothes!

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

There are still two days to go before the Retreat and I’m already tired. There were a couple of things that I needed to do before leaving so I got them out of the way today. But not before I quilted a card and got the binding ready to hand stitch.

Perhaps not in everyone’s order of importance but … I got organized for the Retreat first. We had a list of items we were to bring for the Friday night project (an enviro bag whatever that is) as well as the colour of strips to bring for Saturday night’s poker game. I had one of the three colours needed for the strips and, since I needed to purchase a zipper for the bag, I decided to pick up fabric for it from the sale bin at the fabric store. I came out with a few “extras” but it is such fun shopping there, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday when two of our Guild members are working with Deb.

While I was out I purchased the snacks I will need (for sharing) on the weekend. I had Ju Jubes and Cheezies on my list but when I asked the ladies at the fabric shop about coffee and tea they assured me it would be on all day and I might bring some cookies for sharing. I ended up not buying the Ju Jubes because they didn’t feel fresh but I got some chocolate covered almonds instead. I also slipped in a couple of packages of cookies – the ladies may have been hinting at home-baked but they aren’t getting them from me. I also had beer or wine on my list but I substituted that with some Blackberry Ginger Ale; I had some at Christy’s and really liked it.

Once I was home I started packaging up fabric for my projects – my Circa 2016, my Guild Block of the Month from last year, and the blocks for this year’s Block of the Month. I decided it was easier to take bins of fabric as, for the most part, these are all scrappy projects. I’ll take along some fabric for my Wild Goose Wednesday project (also scraps) and my Leader and Ender project. I know it will be way too much as the Friday night projects generally take me Friday night and Saturday morning.

After lunch I tackled our Income Tax. It wasn’t really hard, but I had to do a lot of scanning and my printer/scanner is in an awkward position – not for printing, but it doesn’t work as well for scanning. My neck has been sore since the quilt show and today’s efforts didn’t do it any good. I have everything sent off to the accountant and she’ll give us the bad news at the end of the month.

There isn’t a lot of afternoon left but I think I deserve a bit of relaxation with my cross stitch. We’re off to a free Canada 150 movie tonight.