Tuesday, November 29, 2016

I did a bit of paperwork yesterday afternoon but I was itching to get back to some sewing so I started a birthday card that is due very soon. The pattern involved half-square triangles that were then to be sewn together to make quarter-square triangles. I’ve done it before but I clearly didn’t remember how and my first attempt went into the dog pillow just as Pat called me for supper.

I was determined that today would be a better day, and it was. I would have liked to have tried some of my newly-acquired skills in invisible machine appliqué since this particular card had some appliqué on it. I thought by the time I dug out my notes, found the right paper and glue that it would take longer than doing it the old way. I improved on my zig zag stitch and I think that, in part, was from my recent class.

I also shook out some cobwebs for the quilting. I used a zig zag around the appliqué, a bit of stitch in the ditch and finished it off with some free-motion quilting. As I worked on the card I kept thinking about how great these cards will be for practice when my new free-motion templates arrive. The next time I have a card with some appliqué I will take the time to try it the “new” way. My next card is going to involve paper piecing and I wish I had time to sit down with my new book (from Houston) to try out a new technique I learned there. But just now I have projects I need to finish so I will have to stick with the tried and (sometimes) true.

I picked my car up just before heading off to the Doctor; the vehicle and I both checked out well! I have a new battery in the car, fresh oil and a gizmo that will stop the hood from falling on your head when it is open. I, on the other hand, have a couple of routine lab tests to have done but I was able to get the renewals on my prescriptions.

It feels good to be back at the sewing machine.

Monday, November 28, 2016

What a day! Nothing, and I mean nothing, has gone according to the plan. The plan was to mail my parcels, cut fabric for cards for tomorrow’s bee, and then work on finishing up some Christmas things I last saw at the Texada Retreat.

We were up early. Pat starts teaching at 5:30 and I slept in until six. We expected our handy man to arrive around 8:30 and then I was going to head to the Post Office right after. It was almost nine and no sign of our worker but I knew he would be along shortly so I left the door unlocked and headed out to the car; he was pulling up just as I got to the car. Bags of parcels in my hand, I tried to unlock the car using the remote; no luck but I knew we had an extra remote so I ran back inside and got it. It didn’t work either. At this point I was a bit concerned maybe there was more wrong than I thought, but Pat said I could use the “actual” key to open the door and it wouldn’t set off the alarm.

Once I’d gained entry I turned the key and – nothing. Dead silence. Not even the clicking I had the last time the battery died. So I called Roadside Assistance and waited 45 minutes for them to arrive. I picked up some handwork (a Christmas thing) so I wouldn’t waste that time doing puzzles on my iPad. The tow truck eventually got the car going so I let it run for a bit and then drove up to the mechanics. He is going to install a new battery and check to see if something else might be draining the battery. I used the car on Saturday with no trouble and it shouldn’t have run completely dead in that short a time. I had to take a cab home and I think I waited about half an hour for it to arrive.

I was watching the time because Pat had arranged for someone to pick up an old vacuum cleaner between 11 and noon. I was home shortly after eleven and waited (with my stitching) until noon but no one came by. Hopefully she didn’t come while I was out but it’s more likely she didn’t get Pat’s message about the timing. Pat drove me to the Post Office when he finished teaching; it isn’t even December and there was already a long line-up. We’re back home now waiting on a plumber who did a job for us last week but Pat noticed we still have a bit of a leak.

I had time to finish the stitching on my Christmas thing while Pat finished his class, and now I’ll try to get some office work done. I have both a Cranberry Hall meeting and a Guild meeting this week so leaving it until Wednesday probably isn’t a good idea. I don’t think I’ll have my car back today so I’ll get at my sewing again tomorrow; I won’t go to the bee as my travelling machine is in my car at the mechanics, and the work I really need to get done is best done on my home machine.

So why am I a Bad Grandma? I knew the Advent Calendars were touch and go to get to their destinations on time, but I just couldn’t pay twice as much in postage in order to guarantee their arrival. So maybe I’m not such a bad Grandma – maybe I’m just cheap!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

The advent parcels are wrapped and ready for the post office tomorrow. And I only left out one item; after finishing up in my “wrapping” room I walked into my “sorting” room and noticed I had neglected to put the gift bag into Christy’s parcel. But I’m not going to rewrap the parcel; if necessary it will arrive late with Dylan’s birthday card.

I had a horrible night last night so I’m hoping with this finished I’ll do better tonight. Before I went to bed I realized that the way I had planned to do Christy’s calendar wasn’t going to work. I woke up around two with an idea of how to fix it; it meant more time and a few more presents but I knew it would work out better. I couldn’t get back to sleep so about 2:30 I decided to read; I finished my book about 3:30 but was still wide awake at four. I got up and did some computer work upstairs and got most of the advent calendar work done before going back to bed at five. I managed to sleep until eight this morning but I’m certainly feeling like it will be an early night tonight.

Dare I say now that the advent calendars are looked after the rest of my holiday crafting will go smoother? Fingers crossed.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Since returning from Houston I have been very good about not making any purchases or downloading free patterns to add to my never-ending collection.

I was out in search of some red ribbon yesterday so I stopped by Crazy Quilt Cottage to see if they had any. To be honest, I saw a photo of a pattern on their Facebook page that I felt I really had to have. Had I seen it in Houston I would have bought it so I convinced myself it was really just a continuation of that shopping trip, minus the custom duties!

While I was at the quilt shop another Guild member was talking about the fantastic deal she got on some free motion templates for her domestic machine – exactly what I was looking for in Houston. I didn’t have any luck in Houston, but it turns out the quilt shop in Kelowna not only stocks the feet (and can tell you exactly which foot you need for your machine) but also the templates. This afternoon I ordered a complete set from her (the foot, six templates, and a how-to book) at about half the regular cost because she is having a sale. When she heard I was from Powell River she said she’d had a lot of orders from here and I explained to her that word travels fast in our town!

There were several craft sales on today but I had decided I was only going to go to one – the one that I participated in over the last two years. I wasn’t looking for anything and went more to show my support than for the shopping. But shopping I did! I purchased several items for the advent calendars and then I found this thread holder; the only decision I felt I needed to make before getting out my money was what type of handle I wanted on the drawer! I just sorted and rearranged my thread into some tins; although I was glad to have them off my counter and in a drawer, they weren’t very accessible. I worry a bit about the thread getting dusty (What! In my room!) but I think I can make a cover for it that will match the cover that I’m going to make for my sewing machine.

And to top off my day of self-indulgence I picked up two books that I had on order from the library.